On the 13th, HYBE’s subsidiary Ador posted a statement on its official website titled “Announcement from Ador.”
Regarding an article that quoted lawyer Lee Hyun-gon’s criticism of HYBE, Ador stated, “We requested that a rebuttal be published,” adding, “This is an exercise of the right to rebuttal to protect corporate value and artist IP.”
Ador emphasized, “The replacement of the CEO by Ador’s board was based on its exclusive authority,” and added, “The board can replace the CEO at any time based on its management judgment.”
The company further expressed regret that “criticism was directed at one party in the dispute based solely on the statements of a specific lawyer, without any inquiries to us or offering us the right to rebuttal.”
According to Ador, lawyer Lee Hyun-gon served as the legal representative for the submission of a petition supporting former CEO Min Hee-jin during an injunction lawsuit. Ador urged that when covering issues related to the company, the media should “ensure the right to rebuttal for impartial reporting.”
Earlier, on the 12th, lawyer Lee Hyun-gon of Saeol Law Office expressed his opinion on the internal conflict between HYBE and Min Hee-jin.
Through his personal account, he stated, “HYBE continues to raise legal issues against Min Hee-jin, such as embezzlement, company takeover, and sexual harassment cover-up, not to achieve results but to prolong the legal disputes themselves.”
He further criticized HYBE, saying, “They are acting as they please under the pretext of being in a state of dispute, without following the law. It’s a gangster-like method. I don’t view the misuse of law in this way positively.” Several media outlets subsequently reported on HYBE-Min Hee-jin’s internal conflict based on Lee’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of Ador, who had been in conflict with HYBE since April, was dismissed from her position at a board meeting on the 27th of last month. In response, even the NewJeans members, who had previously stayed out of the conflict, requested her return during a live broadcast.
At the same time, HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang stated during the shareholders’ meeting on the 12th, “It will take time, but we are responding calmly according to principles.”
