Once claiming to be "NewJeans' mother" and showcasing a close bond with the members, former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin directly mentioned a NewJeans member's family and targeted them in the face of a massive 10 billion won damage lawsuit.
On the afternoon of the 28th in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Min Hee-jin's side held a press conference saying they would reveal the "truth of NewJeans tampering."
Min did not attend that day, and Kim Seon-woong of the law firm Jiam, representing her in the lawsuit, attended and announced their position. Regarding Min's absence, Kim said, "There are aspects related to problems with NewJeans members' families. After hearing recent stories about family relations, she was so shocked that she could not attend."
According to Kim, Min received a complaint on Dec. 30 last year seeking 10 billion won in damages on the grounds that "she led the termination of NewJeans' exclusive contract, took NewJeans out through tampering and infringed ADOR's creditors."
Through the press conference, Min's side drew attention by naming a NewJeans member's family as co-conspirators to clear her of the tampering allegations. Min's side claimed that the so-called "NewJeans tampering" was not led by Min but "a stock market manipulation conspiracy in which one NewJeans member's family colluded with a specific businessman," they said.
Kim said Min's "NewJeans tampering" allegation was false and called it "a nationwide fraud in which one NewJeans member's family and a specific businessman carried out stock price boosting for a particular corporation."
Specifically, Min's side said a member's father introduced his brother identified as Mr. A and proposed entrusting negotiations with HYBE. Min alleged that in this process Mr. A and businessman Mr. B conspired to use her and the NewJeans members as "theme stocks" to boost share prices.
Min presented evidence such as recorded conversations and messages of dialogues between Mr. A and businessman Mr. B, drawing a line by saying the actual tampering plot took place between them.
Public opinion has rapidly worsened after Min's revelations. The justification that she had fought for the members has disappeared, and people cannot hide their disappointment at her attacking even the members' relatives solely to avoid responsibility.
Also, after it was disclosed that HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang had already obtained such contact intelligence in advance and issued warnings, critics say Min's contact with dangerous forces itself shows a failure in her own risk management.
Min said she would press criminal charges for defamation against Mr. B and certain media figures and file complaints for illicit trading, vowing to fight to the end, but after suffering a fatal blow to her symbolism as "NewJeans' mother," whether she can regain public trust and return remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, NewJeans members in Nov. 2024 notified ADOR of unilateral termination of their exclusive contracts, alleging ADOR breached its management duties by dismissing Min Hee-jin and others. That turned into a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contracts, and after about a year of dispute the court ruled that the exclusive contracts with ADOR were valid. Immediately after the first-instance ruling the NewJeans members expressed their intention to appeal, but in Nov. last year 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 with ADOR's victory.
ADOR said, "Hanni decided to respect the court's ruling and be with ADOR. Min-ji is also in talks with ADOR," but added, "In Danielle's case, we judged that it would be difficult for her to continue as a NewJeans member and an ADOR artist and notified termination of the exclusive contract. We also plan to hold legally accountable one member of Danielle's family who bears significant responsibility for causing this dispute and for NewJeans' departure and delayed return, as well as former CEO Min Hee-jin."
Former CEO Min Hee-jin has been accused of being involved in NewJeans members' defection from ADOR and of attempting tampering by contacting another company while the contract period between NewJeans and ADOR remained. ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking about 43.1 billion won in damages against Danielle, one member of Danielle's family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, and Danielle also appointed legal counsel and submitted a power of attorney to the court to respond head-on.
[photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]