Since last year, results regarding the issues involving former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and members of NewJeans, which have stirred the music industry, have been emerging one by one, and public opinion is shifting.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 25th, the Seoul Western District Office of the Ministry of Labor recently notified Min Hee-jin of its intention to impose fines on her.

Previously, A, who left ADOR, reported to the parent company HYBE that they were subjected to workplace harassment by ADOR executive B, and claimed that Min Hee-jin tried to cover up the incident and defended B. Additionally, A alleged that Min Hee-jin verbally abused them and filed a complaint with the labor office in August last year.

The Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office determined on the 18th that certain statements made by Min Hee-jin in relation to A’s workplace harassment complaint constituted workplace harassment, and issued a prior notification regarding the imposition of fines, while also partially acknowledging that Min Hee-jin did not conduct an objective investigation in the workplace harassment investigation involving B.

However, regarding the sexual harassment issue raised by A against B, it was determined that it did not fall under the violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and the case was administratively closed.

On the 24th, A announced via social media that Min Hee-jin’s workplace harassment (including verbal abuse) was acknowledged and resulted in fines, stating, “The recognition of workplace harassment is only 12%, and fines exceeding a simple warning are a serious level of sanction.”

A further stated, “I clearly offered apologies four times to put an end to all this, but it was the other party who did not and instead filed a lawsuit against me. I will respond vigorously to any remaining civil and criminal cases.”

Additionally, A mentioned, “I first revealed the workplace harassment complaint, but the evidence I submitted regarding my complaint does not include the insults mentioned in articles and consists of separate cases. I do not intend to elaborate specifically for the sake of my or Min Hee-jin’s reputation.”

However, Min Hee-jin’s side stated through Monthly Chosun that, “After reviewing the response regarding the handling results of the case, it was found that the facts around the statements deemed as workplace harassment were misrecognized, and there were parts that misunderstood the legal principles regarding workplace harassment and the obligation for objective investigation in the Labor Standards Act.”

Furthermore, they noted, “We plan to proceed with formal objection procedures such as quickly submitting opinions to the administrative office, and we will clarify the exact truth of the complaint case and lift the unfair accusations,” while requesting the halt of the spread of inaccurate information.

In addition to the complaint to the labor office, A also filed civil and criminal complaints against Min Hee-jin last year at the Seoul Mapo Police Station for violations of the Labor Standards Act and Personal Information Protection Act, as well as for spreading false information, and subsequently filed a damages lawsuit through the Seoul Western District Court.

In January, during the first mediation session for a damages lawsuit amounting to 100 million won filed by A against Min Hee-jin for defamation based on false information, A’s side expressed willingness to agree to mediation if Min Hee-jin admitted her wrongs and apologized, but Min Hee-jin’s side stated, “We cannot accept the entire facts, so we have no intention to comply with mediation,” resulting in the mediation being terminated.

The fines imposed by the labor office are expected to significantly impact future lawsuits, attracting considerable public attention.

Additionally, Min Hee-jin is in a situation where further lawsuits are anticipated. A lawsuit regarding the confirmation of termination of a shareholder contract filed by HYBE, along with defamation lawsuits regarding plagiarism filed by Belift Lab, and a damages lawsuit filed by Source Music are scheduled to proceed in April and May.

In the previous hearing session, both sides engaged in a fierce back-and-forth without backing down, drawing attention to the direction of the lawsuits.

In a situation where public opinion is deteriorating amid the decision to grant NewJeans' injunction request, attention is focused on whether Min Hee-jin, who has remained silent, will strike back once again in the upcoming lawsuits.

[Photo] OSEN DB

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