Min Hee-jin, the former ADOR CEO who has publicly distanced herself from NewJeans, is speaking out again.
The Dec. 4 episode of the YouTube channel "Yeouido Genre" will feature Min, who sits at the center of a heated dispute over a 26 billion won put-option case. The teaser thumbnail splashes phrases like "26 Billion Won Trial" and "Do-or-Die," signaling she may address the legal flashpoints head-on.
Industry watchers see the interview as an attempt to fight the battle in the court of public opinion. Min is suing HYBE to enforce a shareholder put option tied to her ADOR stake, seeking roughly 26 billion won in share-purchase payments. At the same time, HYBE has filed a separate suit against Min and two associates to confirm the termination of their shareholders' agreement.
Min argues the pact obligates HYBE to buy her shares for around 26 billion won. HYBE counters that she violated a non-compete clause, making any put-option exercise invalid. The clash now hinges on two questions: whether Min has the right to exercise the put, and whether she breached the non-compete.
Last year, Min held two combative press conferences blasting HYBE, taking the feud public. When NewJeans moved to terminate their exclusive contract and hinted at going independent, speculation swirled that Min was pulling the strings ― a claim she has flatly denied. She has also voiced concern about HYBE's response after NewJeans signaled an intention to return to ADOR.
Following the teaser drop, some subscribers pushed back, arguing that legal judgment should take precedence over public appeals and voicing concern about giving an unchallenged platform to Min's side of the story.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)