On January 28, Kim Sun-woong, an attorney from Law Firm Ziam and Min Hee-jin’s legal representative, held a press conference at the Kyobo Jonggak Building in Jongno, Seoul. At the event, he firmly denied the so-called “Min Hee-jin tampering” claims, asserting that they were a nationwide fraud staged through collusion between a family member of a NewJeans member and stock price manipulation forces.
The sudden clarification comes amid looming legal action. According to Min Hee-jin’s side, HYBE filed a damages lawsuit worth approximately 10 billion KRW last month, accusing her of leading the termination of NewJeans’ exclusive contracts and engaging in tampering. With a trial approaching, the press conference appeared aimed at refuting allegations of breach of trust and establishing an alibi ahead of court proceedings.
The “Davolink Meeting” at the Center of Dispute
The core issue addressed during the press conference was the nature of the so-called “Davolink meeting” that took place on September 30, 2024, involving Min Hee-jin and Park Jung-gyu, chairman of Davolink. Min Hee-jin’s side characterized the meeting as a case of her being victimized by organized market manipulators.
Attorney Kim Sun-woong explained that in June 2024, the father of a NewJeans member, referred to as “Member A,” introduced Park Jung-gyu through his older brother, claiming he had extensive connections. “Min Hee-jin attended the meeting solely out of trust in the member’s family and had no prior knowledge of Park Jung-gyu’s alleged stock manipulation history or Davolink,” Kim stated.
Instead, the legal team redirected suspicion toward HYBE. Kim claimed that two days before the meeting, on September 28, HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang had already mentioned Davolink and warned Min Hee-jin not to meet them. Based on this, the legal team raised the possibility that HYBE had prior knowledge of Davolink’s approach, failed to prevent it, and later framed the situation as tampering.
Contradictions With Earlier Reports
However, these assertions directly contradict previous media reports. In January 2025, TenAsia reported that Park Jung-gyu claimed Min Hee-jin had spoken familiarly with a NewJeans member’s father over speakerphone prior to the meeting, asking, “Father, did things go well?”
Dispatch also reported that during the meeting, Min Hee-jin allegedly asked, “Would it be possible for me to take NewJeans with me?” suggesting discussions that went beyond simple communication channels.
In response, Kim Sun-woong dismissed these reports as false, stating that the meeting was intended solely to establish a communication window, not to discuss investment or the removal of NewJeans from ADOR. He emphasized that Min Hee-jin’s priority at the time was returning to her position at ADOR.
A Delayed Explanation Under Scrutiny
According to Min Hee-jin’s side, she only realized later that the individuals involved were attempting to exploit NewJeans to inflate stock prices. When she refused to cooperate, they allegedly retaliated by giving interviews and spreading damaging narratives.
However, critics argue that this delayed explanation may be a double-edged sword. As a label head responsible for intellectual property worth trillions of won, Min Hee-jin effectively admitted to meeting unverified external figures without sufficient due diligence. While denying malicious intent, she may have inadvertently acknowledged behavior considered inappropriate for a senior executive.
With a 10 billion KRW lawsuit looming and NewJeans already facing instability following Danielle’s contract termination, questions remain as to whether Min Hee-jin’s year-late explanation will convince the court.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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