Min Hee Jin vs. HYBE Labels: Legal Battle Over CEO Dismissal and Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement

Min Hee Jin vs. HYBE Labels: Legal Battle Over CEO Dismissal and Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement

Min Hee Jin vs. HYBE Labels: Legal Battle Over CEO Dismissal and Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement

On October 11 KST, a critical hearing took place in the 50th civil division of the Seoul Central District Court, where the former CEO of ADOR, Min Hee Jin, confronted HYBE Labels over her abrupt dismissal as CEO. Min Hee Jin, widely recognized for her creative vision behind the meteoric rise of the girl group NewJeans, argued that her removal from her post was not only unjust but also a direct violation of her shareholder contract. This legal battle has captivated public attention, particularly given the strong allegations of intellectual property infringement involving another HYBE-affiliated girl group, ILLIT, which Min Hee Jin claims closely copied elements of NewJeans.

 Min Hee Jin's Rise and Sudden Dismissal

Min Hee Jin was a creative force at SM Entertainment before joining HYBE Labels, where she established ADOR (All Doors One Room) and created NewJeans. Under her leadership, NewJeans achieved rapid popularity and became a top act in K-pop. However, in a surprise move on August 27, during an executive board meeting, HYBE dismissed Min Hee Jin as CEO of ADOR. Kim Joo Young was appointed as her successor.




This dismissal shocked many, not only because of Min Hee Jin’s success with NewJeans but also because of the legal dispute that followed. Min Hee Jin’s side argued that the decision to oust her was a clear violation of her shareholder contract. She claimed she was forced out against her will, without proper consent, and that the move was abrupt, as she was only notified that she would remain a producer for NewJeans.

 The Legal Battle Begins

Min Hee Jin wasted no time in challenging her dismissal, filing an injunction to reverse HYBE’s decision. During the October 11 hearing, her legal team presented what they referred to as “new evidence,” further intensifying the drama between her and HYBE.




According to her legal representative, Min Hee Jin received a shocking tip from an informant affiliated with BeLift Lab, a subsidiary of HYBE. This informant provided her with project proposal files from both NewJeans and ILLIT, a new girl group under BeLift Lab. The informant claimed that the NewJeans proposal had been shared among BeLift Lab staff as a "reference" and that when compared with the ILLIT proposal, the similarities were glaring. This evidence, Min Hee Jin argued, showed that the creative concepts and vision she had crafted for NewJeans had been unfairly copied to produce ILLIT.




Her legal team asserted that the similarities between the two groups were not coincidental and that BeLift Lab had intentionally used the NewJeans concept as a template for ILLIT. This revelation, if proven true, would be a significant blow to HYBE, as it raises questions about the company’s ethics and practices regarding intellectual property.

 HYBE Defends Its Actions

In response to these accusations, HYBE Labels presented a strong defense during the hearing, justifying their decision to dismiss Min Hee Jin. One of their main arguments centered around an incident involving ADOR and a case of sexual harassment within the company. HYBE accused Min Hee Jin of mishandling the situation, claiming that instead of taking steps to prevent future incidents, she focused on implementing new regulations to punish false accusers. This stance, according to HYBE, damaged ADOR’s image and made it appear as if the company was lenient toward sexual harassment.




HYBE also accused Min Hee Jin of using ADOR’s name to distribute official press statements related to her personal dispute with the victim of the harassment case, referred to as "B". This, they argued, caused further harm to ADOR’s reputation and was a significant factor in their decision to dismiss her.




Furthermore, HYBE argued that Min Hee Jin had been using media outlets to tarnish the company's image in an attempt to force the sale of ADOR stocks. According to their legal team, she had devised detailed plans to break away from HYBE and take NewJeans with her. HYBE referenced the case of FIFTY FIFTY, another K-pop group that became entangled in a legal dispute after attempting to separate from their agency, as a parallel to Min Hee Jin’s ambitions. They claimed that she believed the success and profits of NewJeans were solely hers, and she was determined to gain independence from HYBE.

 Intellectual Property Dispute: NewJeans vs. ILLIT

At the heart of Min Hee Jin’s case is the allegation that ILLIT, a girl group formed under BeLift Lab, closely copied NewJeans. The informant who came forward with evidence provided documents comparing the project proposals for both groups, with the claim that BeLift Lab staff had used the NewJeans concept as a reference for ILLIT. If proven, this would be a serious breach of intellectual property, as it would suggest that HYBE-affiliated companies were using the success of NewJeans to replicate a similar formula for ILLIT.




Min Hee Jin's legal team presented these documents as new evidence, emphasizing the creative theft involved. The proposal files, they argued, showed striking similarities between the two groups, from their overall concepts to specific visual and musical elements. NewJeans, known for its fresh and youthful image, has been a trailblazer in the K-pop industry, and Min Hee Jin believes that ILLIT was intentionally designed to mimic this success.




This intellectual property dispute has the potential to cause serious damage to HYBE’s reputation. The K-pop industry thrives on originality and innovation, and if one of the largest entertainment companies in South Korea is found to be recycling ideas from one group to another, it could result in a significant backlash from both fans and industry professionals.

 Min Hee Jin’s Shareholder Contract

Another key point in this case is Min Hee Jin’s shareholder contract, which she claims HYBE violated by dismissing her as CEO without her consent. As a shareholder, she argues that she should have had more control over decisions regarding her role within the company. Her legal team contends that her forced removal was unlawful and that HYBE’s actions disregarded her rights as a shareholder.




HYBE, however, maintains that their decision was justified due to Min Hee Jin’s mishandling of the sexual harassment case and her alleged attempts to damage the company’s reputation. They argue that her dismissal was in the best interest of ADOR and HYBE as a whole.

 The Implications of the Case

This legal battle between Min Hee Jin and HYBE has far-reaching implications for both parties. For Min Hee Jin, the outcome of the case will determine not only her future in the entertainment industry but also her ability to continue working with NewJeans. If she succeeds in her injunction request, she could be reinstated as CEO of ADOR, allowing her to regain control over the group she created.




For HYBE, the stakes are equally high. The company has built a massive empire in the entertainment industry, and a ruling against them could damage their reputation and result in financial losses. Additionally, the allegations of intellectual property theft could raise questions about the company’s business practices and its treatment of creative professionals.

 Awaiting the Court's Decision

As the court deliberates on the case, fans and industry insiders alike are eagerly awaiting the outcome. The court's decision will not only determine the future of Min Hee Jin and NewJeans but also set a precedent for how disputes over intellectual property and shareholder rights are handled in the K-pop industry.




For now, both sides have presented their arguments, with Min Hee Jin focusing on the alleged copying of NewJeans by ILLIT and HYBE defending their decision to dismiss her based on her actions regarding the sexual harassment case and her purported efforts to break away from the company. As the civil court prepares to make its ruling, the K-pop world watches closely, knowing that the decision could have significant consequences for everyone involved.






The legal battle between Min Hee Jin and HYBE Labels is a complex case that involves questions of intellectual property, shareholder rights, and corporate governance. With accusations of plagiarism, mishandling of sensitive cases, and power struggles within the entertainment industry, the outcome of this case could reshape the dynamics within HYBE and set new standards for how similar disputes are resolved in the future.




Both Min Hee Jin and HYBE stand to gain or lose a great deal, and the court’s decision will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the careers of those involved, as well as the trajectory of NewJeans and ILLIT. As the trial continues, the K-pop industry holds its breath, awaiting a verdict that could change the landscape of Korean entertainment.