On December 19, Min Hee-jin appeared as a guest on YTN Radio’s “Kim Jun-woo’s News Frontline,” where she responded in detail to multiple controversies currently surrounding her name. The program attempted to secure an interview with HYBE for balance but reportedly received a response stating the company was unable to participate at the time.
Alleged Reverse Viral Campaign Involving HYBE Subsidiary
One of the key issues discussed was suspicion surrounding HYBE subsidiary TAG PR (The Agency Group PR) and allegations that it was involved in spreading malicious content targeting Min Hee-jin overseas. The claim centers on so-called “reverse viral” tactics—manufacturing negative commentary and defamatory narratives.
Min Hee-jin said she first sensed something unusual when foreign media inquiries began arriving. “A Billboard reporter contacted me saying they received bizarre materials and wanted to verify them,” she recalled. According to Min Hee-jin, the reporter allegedly stated the materials originated from TAG PR, which she found alarming.
She further claimed her name later appeared in legal documents related to a Hollywood actor’s lawsuit, something she learned only through media reports. While HYBE has denied any involvement, stating that the issue stems from a dispute unrelated to HYBE or HYBE America, Min Hee-jin countered that the timeline and ownership structure raised serious questions.
“I’ve received multiple suggestions to explore a U.S. lawsuit,” Min Hee-jin said, adding that some legal experts advised her that even HYBE’s headquarters could potentially be addressed through American courts. She emphasized that she is currently organizing facts and monitoring developments rather than rushing legal action.
Financial Concerns Over HYBE America
Min Hee-jin also commented on HYBE America’s reported financial struggles, stating that she had internally criticized the acquisition strategy while still inside the company. She claimed she had advised HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk against acquiring certain companies at inflated prices, questioning whether subsidiaries were being purchased at fair market value.
“Even back then, I didn’t understand the acquisition costs,” she said, adding that issues she previously raised internally only became public through media reports much later.
“He Wasn’t My Ex—He Was Three Exes Ago”
Min Hee-jin also firmly denied allegations that she provided special treatment to BANA CEO Kim Ki-hyun, who was revealed in court on December 18 to be a former romantic partner. HYBE claimed BANA received exclusive A&R contracts from the early days of ADOR and was paid fees exceeding double the total settlement amounts distributed to NewJeans members.
Calling the claim “absurd,” Min Hee-jin stated, “He wasn’t even my ex-boyfriend—he was three exes ago. We had already broken up before NewJeans’ contracts even began. We were complete strangers by then.”
She added, “Why would anyone want to give favors to a former partner? Usually, people want nothing to do with their exes.” Min Hee-jin stressed that the issue was irrelevant to the core legal dispute and suggested the claim was inserted to influence media coverage rather than legal judgment.
Regarding compensation figures, Min Hee-jin explained that A&R roles vary widely by company and should not be judged by standard employee benchmarks. She argued that the producer in question functioned more like an artist than a salaried worker, and that compensation should be evaluated against revenue performance—not flat salary comparisons.
“If you’re talking about excessive pay, there were HYBE executives with far less performance receiving higher incentives and stock options,” she said.
HYBE Responds
In response, HYBE issued a statement to the program stating that Min Hee-jin’s side should focus on resolving legal disputes in court rather than airing unilateral claims through media platforms. The company added that factual matters should be thoroughly examined through legal proceedings.
Despite the growing controversy, Min Hee-jin reiterated that many of the issues raised were not central to the ongoing lawsuit and expressed frustration over what she described as distorted media reporting.
As legal proceedings continue, the dispute between Min Hee-jin and HYBE shows no signs of cooling—now extending beyond Korea and potentially into international legal territory.
Sources: Newsen,YTN Radio
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