Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin will speak about the allegations of "NewJeans tampering."
On the 27th, Kim Seon-woong of law firm Ziam, legal representative for former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, said in a cooperation notice to reporters that an emergency press conference will be held at a location in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 28th.
The law firm said, "We are holding this press conference to convey the truth about the so-called 'NewJeans tampering' allegations in relation to ADOR's damages lawsuit against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and ADOR's contract terminations and damages lawsuits against some NewJeans members."
This will be the third time former CEO Min Hee-jin has held a press conference regarding her legal dispute with ADOR. Initially, when allegations of 'attempted takeover of management rights' that sparked the incident were raised in April 2024, the former CEO held her first press conference and asserted her innocence. In the process, she caused controversy with blunt remarks mixed with profanity such as, "gaejeossi are trying to kill me," "I can't help but swear. There are too many XXXX," and "If you want to come in, come at me directly. Don't cowardly tremble with XX from behind."
At the second press conference a month later, she pleaded for reconciliation, saying, "Compromise is needed to close the wounds. Dialogue is necessary, and a new plan is needed for how to move forward." But after failing to find common ground, former CEO Min Hee-jin was dismissed from the position of ADOR CEO by the board of directors and she voluntarily resigned from her position as an inside director.
Then NewJeans members in November 2024 notified ADOR of unilateral termination of exclusive contracts, saying ADOR had violated its management duties due to the dismissal of former CEO Min Hee-jin and others. This led to a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contracts, and after about a year of dispute the court ruled that the contracts with ADOR were valid. Immediately after the first-instance ruling, NewJeans members expressed an intention to appeal, but last November members Haerin and Hye-in decided to return to ADOR. Then Min-ji, Hanni and Danielle also notified their intention to return to ADOR, ending the exclusive contract dispute in ADOR's favor.
ADOR said, "Hanni decided to respect the court's ruling and remain with ADOR. Min-ji is also in discussions with ADOR," but added, "In Danielle's case, we judged that it would be difficult for her to remain as a NewJeans member and an ADOR artist, and notified her of termination of the exclusive contract. We also plan to hold legally responsible Danielle's family member who bears significant responsibility for causing this dispute and the departure and delayed return of NewJeans, and former CEO Min Hee-jin."
Former CEO Min Hee-jin has been accused of being involved in NewJeans members' departures from ADOR and of attempting tampering by contacting other companies while the contract period between NewJeans and ADOR remained in effect. In connection with this, it was revealed that a member of Danielle's family was a key accomplice in former CEO Min Hee-jin's tampering allegations, causing a stir. In response, ADOR filed a damages lawsuit seeking about 43.1 billion won against Danielle, one member of Danielle's family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, and Danielle also appointed legal counsel and filed a power of attorney with the court to fight back.
Meanwhile, former CEO Min Hee-jin is also expected to convey her position on the 'NewJeans tampering' allegations at the press conference. Earlier, regarding the tampering allegations, she said, "I heard that stories such as 'I was going to receive an investment from someone' and 'I was going to sign a contract with someone' are spreading in the investment industry. I want to make it clear that none of this is true."
But it is known that former CEO Min Hee-jin will not attend this third press conference. The press conference will be attended by her litigation representative and one person involved in the case, and attention is focused on what stance they will take regarding NewJeans tampering.
Meanwhile, former CEO Min Hee-jin is currently involved in litigation with HYBE over termination of the shareholders' agreement and a claim for payment under a put option. That lawsuit is scheduled for a first-instance ruling on Feb. 12.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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