Prosecutors have declined to indict HYBE executives in a case filed by Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR and former general producer of NewJeans, who had accused the company of obstruction of business and defamation.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (led by Senior Prosecutor Hwang Su-yeon) said Tuesday that it had decided not to indict any of the accused on Nov. 27. Min had filed complaints against six executives including former HYBE CEO Park Ji-won, as well as four executives including Kim Tae-ho, CEO of HYBE subsidiary BELIFT LAB.
Earlier, in April 2024, HYBE distributed a press release stating that Min had engaged in "shamanistic management," consulting a shaman on ADOR's management matters, and that ADOR's management had conspired to terminate NewJeans' contract. Min filed the complaint in protest, arguing that "HYBE executives disclosed false information externally, obstructing ADOR's business and damaging its reputation."
However, prosecutors concluded that it was difficult to deem the content distributed by HYBE false, citing facts such as that Min had actually discussed ADOR management issues with a shaman.
A separate defamation complaint related to a YouTube video, which contained claims that ILLIT, an idol group under BELIFT LAB, had not plagiarized NewJeans' choreography and costumes, was also dismissed for lack of evidence.
In addition, prosecutors found no charges in a complaint alleging that HYBE had violated information network laws by accessing ADOR's emails and KakaoTalk messages without authorization, concluding that the information had been verified under legitimate audit authority.
