The first hearing for Source Music’s 500 million won damage compensation suit has been scheduled for January 10 of next year by the Seoul Western District Court’s Civil Division 12.
Regarding this, on November 21, a representative from Min Hee-jin’s side told Star News, “Source Music’s claims are absurd and false. We will respond with strong legal action.”
Source Music filed this lawsuit against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin through the Seoul Western District Court last July.
Source Music has been seeking compensation through legal action for damages caused by Min Hee-jin’s claims related to NewJeans’ debut. Previously, Min held a press conference where she alleged that Source Music had neglected some NewJeans members while they were under the company and questioned why LE SSERAFIM debuted before NewJeans.
Regarding this, Source Music refuted Min Hee-jin’s claims in detail, stating, “Her assertion that Source Music copied her launching strategy is false. Source Music never copied Min Hee-jin’s strategy nor acknowledged any of her complaints.”
The company added, “In May 2020, HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk suggested that the launching strategy proposed by Min Hee-jin, then CBO, should be implemented not through Team N, but through a ‘new team’ to be established under a label she would establish. Despite being fully aware of this context, Min is distorting the facts to make it seem as if Chairman Bang suggested that Min’s launching strategy be realized through Team N.”
Source Music emphasized, “Min Hee-jin continues to spread false information about Source Music. Beyond the damages lawsuit already filed against her, we plan to take strong legal action on this matter as well. If necessary, we are willing to disclose all evidence we possess to clarify the truth.”
Coincidentally, Min Hee-jin is also involved in a 2 billion won damage compensation lawsuit with Belift Lab over allegations that its group ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans’ concept.
The Seoul Western District Court’s Civil Division 12 will hold the first hearing on January 10 of next year for the damages lawsuit filed by ILLIT’s agency Belift Lab against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.
Previously, Belift Lab filed this lawsuit in June, denying allegations that ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans’ planning proposal. Belift Lab stated, “ILLIT’s branding strategy and concept were finalized and internally shared on July 21, 2023. The so-called ‘planning proposal’ was sent by the informant later, on August 28, 2023, making it impossible for it to have influenced ILLIT’s concept.”
Regarding this, Min Hee-jin’s representative told Star News on November 18, “Despite detailed testimony from an internal whistleblower at HYBE and clear similarities, they are denying it and misleading public opinion. HYBE and Belift Lab are the ones spreading numerous falsehoods, obstructing business and committing defamation by bringing an issue that could have been resolved internally into the public.” The representative further criticized, “Rather than considering the harm caused to NewJeans, they are using rookie artists as a shield to claim obstruction of business. They need to reflect on who is truly responsible.”
During a preliminary injunction hearing held by the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 50 (Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon) regarding HYBE’s exercise of voting rights, Min Hee-jin claimed that “ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans” and disclosed testimony from a HYBE internal employee. According to the testimony, ILLIT’s creative director had received NewJeans’ planning documents during ILLIT’s planning phase, and the two concepts were reportedly identical. The whistleblower also stated, “I couldn’t imagine they would make it exactly the same.”
Meanwhile, on November 20, Min Hee-jin announced through her legal representative, “Today, I resign as an internal director of ADOR. I am also terminating the shareholder agreement with HYBE and will hold them legally accountable for breaching the agreement. Furthermore, I will take necessary legal actions one by one against HYBE and its affiliates for their numerous unlawful acts.” In response, ADOR released an official statement expressing regret over Min’s unilateral resignation notice, stating briefly, “We will do our best to support NewJeans so that they can grow and develop further.“
Source: Daum, Daum
