B, former ADOR employee who resigned after claiming workplace sexual harassment and bullying, expressed that she is suffering from secondary harm due to Min Hee-jin‘s statement denying the cover-up of sexual harassment allegations. B recently filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin and A and shared her reasons for taking legal action and her feelings about the ongoing situation.
The news of B filing civil and criminal lawsuits and lodging a complaint with the Labor Office against Min Hee-jin and A became public on August 23rd. Previously, B reported to HYBE’s internal ethics team (RW) that she had suffered sexual harassment and workplace bullying while working directly under A. After the investigation, HYBE’s HR team concluded that while it was difficult to definitively confirm sexual harassment or workplace bullying that would warrant disciplinary action, they found A’s behavior inappropriate and recommended a stern warning.
However, Min Hee-jin refused to issue the stern warning to A, and B later learned that Min had interfered in the investigation process to protect A. This raised suspicions that Min Hee-jin was attempting to cover up the sexual harassment case. In response to the growing controversy, Min Hee-jin posted a lengthy statement on SNS denying any involvement in a cover-up. However, B countered Min Hee-jin’s claims, maintaining that the cover-up was real, leading to further tension. Min Hee-jin then issued another statement suggesting that B’s allegations were retaliatory and false.
In a recent phone interview, B explained that Min Hee-jin’s statements have caused her severe secondary damage. B said, “If Min Hee-jin’s interference in my RW report was the first harm, then the second came from her public statement. Because of Min Hee-jin’s statement, I had to quit my job, and I’m now seen as someone who made a false, retaliatory report. Despite being evaluated favorably by 4 out of 5 supervisors, A—who I only worked with for a month—gave me an unfavorable review. This is clear defamation through spreading false information. Additionally, they disclosed private conversations and my salary without consent, which is another issue.”
B also described the rapid spread of the situation within the small, closely-knit industry. B said “People in the industry quickly figured out that I was the person involved, and even overseas clients contacted me about it. I became known as the employee who was fired after making a false report”, adding that hateful comments accusing her of being incompetent have also increased since Min Hee-jin’s statement.
B explained that she decided to pursue civil and criminal action against Min Hee-jin and A to protect herself. B shared, “Min Hee-jin has a large following, comparable to that of a celebrity, due to her association with NewJeans. It felt almost reckless to release a statement or file a lawsuit, as I was warned by others that it could backfire on me. At first, I only wanted to correct the facts and receive an apology, but after Min Hee-jin’s additional statement, it became clear that there was no intention of apologizing.”
B’s lawsuit against Min Hee-jin and A was filed at the end of last month, and her complaint with the Labor Office is also under review. She hopes for a fair investigation and transparent results this time, as the initial investigation was, in her view, biased.
In light of the situation, ADOR’s new CEO Kim Joo-young announced plans for a reinvestigation into the workplace sexual harassment and bullying claims to uncover the truth and prevent recurrence. B expressed her relief that an external organization would be handling the investigation, saying she was hopeful for a fair process.
Despite the ongoing reinvestigation by ADOR, B intends to proceed with her lawsuit against Min Hee-jin and A without withdrawing the charges. She reiterated that legal action was her last resort to seek justice and accountability, stating, “If Min Hee-jin had acknowledged the truth and apologized earlier, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point. This situation arose due to her poor judgment and leadership.”
When contacted for a response, Min Hee-jin’s side declined to comment further, stating only that they await the results of the legal investigation.
Source: naver