Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR and current head of Ooak Records, sparked intense debate with her third press conference on January 28 despite not appearing herself. Legal representative Kim Sun-woong, from law firm Jiam, addressed the media, citing Min’s emotional turmoil stemming from issues involving NewJeans members’ families as the reason for her absence.
YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, a prominent entertainment commentator, described the event as “unprecedented,” emphasizing its irregularity due to participating journalists allegedly scolding fellow reporters and what appeared to be an overly orchestrated Q&A session. He further speculated that the timing of the press conference just two weeks ahead of a critical court ruling on Min’s ₩26 billion put option case was no coincidence.
Lee questioned the real motive behind the press event, asserting that its true purpose may have been to redirect attention away from the legal battle and toward discrediting specific individuals, particularly NewJeans’ youngest member Hyein and her family. According to Lee, key documents presented by HYBE’s legal team, Kim & Chang, shortly before the trial’s closing arguments, reportedly included testimony or material originating from a returning NewJeans member. These documents allegedly became the backbone of tampering allegations against Min.
In the press conference, Min’s legal team argued that the tampering scandal was not instigated by Min herself, but rather by one NewJeans member’s family widely interpreted to mean Hyein’s uncle who was allegedly involved in manipulating stock prices for personal gain. They described the tampering claims as part of a broader scheme, framing Min as the victim of a corporate setup.
Critics, however, questioned why such information wasn’t reserved for the courtroom. When asked whether the press conference was a public relations strategy, lawyer Kim claimed that the media narrative had already been shaped by earlier false reports, and Min was simply clarifying the truth. He emphasized that the tampering allegations had wrongfully painted her as a market manipulator and needed to be publicly addressed.
The press conference drew further scrutiny due to its emotionally charged tone and its selective focus on specific individuals, with many suggesting it blurred the lines between legal defense and personal attacks. ADOR later responded curtly, stating, “If there are claims, they should be addressed in court.”
Min Hee-jin has been embroiled in ongoing legal battles with HYBE since her dismissal from ADOR in November 2024. She launched a ₩26 billion lawsuit to exercise her put option against HYBE, while ADOR countered with a ₩43 billion damages suit. In addition, Min is currently facing other lawsuits—worth ₩2 billion and ₩500 million respectively from Belift Lab and Source Music, over alleged business interference.
With her court date approaching on February 12, the fallout from this press conference has only heightened public interest and speculation over Min’s legal strategy and whether it marks a last-ditch effort to sway public opinion in her favor.
Sources: Nate
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