The Seoul Central District Court held a hearing on May 17th regarding HYBE’s Min Hee-jin, who filed an injunction to block the company from exercising voting rights. Although Min Hee-jin was not present, representatives from both Sejong law firm (on behalf of ADOR) and HYBE were in attendance.
During the hearing, HYBE levied severe accusations against Min Hee-jin, including that she had “exchanged around 58,000 messages with a shaman, implementing a strategic plan to take over management positions. In an alleged mission, she named ADOR under the shaman’s guidance. Additionally, she is accused of showing trainee pictures to the shaman, who had a considerable influence over which members would debut, sometimes disqualifying them for purported ghost possession.”
![Controversy Surrounding HYBE and Min Hee-jin’s Alleged Consultation with a Shaman 3 min hee jin-bang si hyuk-thumbnail](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/min-hee-jin-bang-si-hyuk-thumbnail-051724-1.jpg?resize=680%2C357)
HYBE also criticized Min Hee-jin’s workplace behavior, indicating she “imposed orders on female employees in a domineering way and frequently made disparaging remarks about women. Her conduct demonstrates a lack of respect for fellow employees”.
HYBE initiated an internal investigation on April 22nd after discovering possible unfaithfulness by Min Hee-jin, which brought forth several accusations, such as trying to usurp managerial power, signing exclusive contracts with NewJeans, and misappropriation of funds. Further, on May 15th, the dispute between ADOR and HYBE escalated over a meeting with an analyst.
The company has sought Min Hee-jin’s removal from her position as CEO. With HYBE possessing an 80% stake in ADOR, Min Hee-jin’s dismissal seems inevitable if a special general meeting is scheduled. Nonetheless, Min Hee-jin has sought legal action to maintain her CEO status by filing an injunction against the use of HYBE’s voting rights. The outcome of this power struggle is yet to be determined by the court.
FAQ about HYBE’s ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MIN HEE-JIN
- What is the injunction filed by Min Hee-jin about?
Min Hee-jin filed an injunction against HYBE to prevent the company from utilizing its voting rights, which could potentially lead to her dismissal as CEO. - What are the accusations made by HYBE against Min Hee-jin?
HYBE accuses Min Hee-jin of consulting with a shaman for management decisions, discriminating against female employees, attempting to gain control over management, signing exclusive contracts improperly, and embezzlement. - Why is Min Hee-jin’s role as CEO at risk?
Because of the alleged unethical behavior and HYBE owning an 80% stake in ADOR, Min Hee-jin’s role as CEO is threatened. HYBE has the power to remove her if a special general meeting is convened.
Conclusion
The tension between HYBE and Min Hee-jin has escalated to a court decision that will influence the future leadership structure of ADOR. The allegations brought by HYBE paint a troubling picture of the inner workings of the company and question the integrity of Min Hee-jin. It remains to be seen how the Seoul Central District Court will rule on this matter, but the implications for corporate governance and ethical management in the K-pop industry are significant.