Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of K-pop label Ador, has filed a criminal complaint against two public relations executives from its parent company, HYBE. The complaint, filed with Seoul’s Yongsan Police Station on Monday, accuses HYBE’s Chief Communication Officer Park Tae-hee and a PR director named Cho of breach of duty.
Min claims the two executives failed in their roles and caused harm to Ador and its girl group, NewJeans, by downplaying the group’s achievements.
This legal action is the latest chapter in a lengthy dispute that has affected Ador. The conflict began in April when HYBE conducted an unexpected audit into Ador, alleging that Min attempted to take control of the label, an accusation she denies.
By August, the pro-HYBE board removed Min from her CEO position, and tensions escalated in November when NewJeans issued a demand letter, threatening to leave unless Min was reinstated.
Min officially resigned from Ador’s board earlier this month, and speculation has mounted that NewJeans may seek to terminate their contracts with the company.
Industry sources suggest that NewJeans might file for a court injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts as soon as Friday, 14 days after the demand letter was issued on November 14.
