On the 51st Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court, the third hearing will be held for the damages lawsuit filed by former ADOR employee A against Min Hee-jin, seeking around 100 million KRW in compensation for defamation caused by false information. The case was filed in August, and on September 23, A successfully obtained a court decision approving the provisional seizure of Min’s real estate assets worth about 100 million KRW. This provisional seizure appears to have been carried out to secure enforceability of payment.



A had stirred controversy by exposing allegations of sexual harassment involving ADOR’s former deputy CEO, claiming that while working at ADOR, they were sexually harassed by the deputy and that Min Hee-jin attempted to cover up the case. In August, A also filed a criminal complaint with the Seoul Mapo Police Station against Min for defamation and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and additionally reported both Min and the deputy CEO to the Seoul Western District Office of Employment and Labor for unfair labor practices and labor-management misconduct.



Although the provisional seizure was granted, it does not immediately lead to the disposal of Min’s home. Provisional seizure is a legal measure that allows a creditor to temporarily seize a debtor’s property to secure repayment. If A ultimately wins the damages suit and Min fails to pay, the seized property could then be subject to forced execution.



This hearing will mark Min Hee-jin’s first trial appearance after the Chuseok holiday, raising attention as to whether she will attend in person.



On September 11, Min drew significant attention by appearing at the Seoul Central District Court for a hearing in the lawsuit against HYBE over the termination of a shareholders’ agreement and the exercise of a put option. She arrived at the court in a large taxi for direct questioning, but responded to reporters’ questions only with a smile, entering the courtroom without comment. On her way in, she exchanged brief words with familiar journalists, showing a sense of composure.



In November of last year, Min announced her resignation as an inside director of ADOR and subsequently filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to claim payment for exercising a put option estimated at about 26 billion KRW. A put option is a contractual right allowing the sale of shares at a predetermined price within a certain period. However, HYBE has argued that the shareholders’ agreement was terminated in July of last year, and therefore Min’s put option rights are no longer valid.




Written by Yoon Sang Geun
Translated by Lee So Yun