In a landmark ruling, the Seoul Western District Court has found that former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin committed workplace harassment against a former employee. The decision came as a result of Min’s legal challenge against a fine imposed by the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office.
Judge Jeong Cheol Min of the 61st Civil Division delivered the verdict on October 16, rejecting Min’s appeal and siding with the government’s original decision to impose the penalty. The ruling confirmed that Min’s actions met the legal definition of workplace bullying under the Labor Standards Act.
The case began when a former ADOR employee, identified as A, filed a complaint in 2023 alleging verbal abuse and psychological distress caused by Min. After investigation, labor authorities concluded that Min’s behavior inflicted “physical and emotional distress” and created a “hostile work environment.” A fine was subsequently issued in March 2025.
Min Hee Jin contested the decision, arguing that the labor office had misunderstood the legal grounds for workplace harassment. Her legal team maintained that the fine was based on misinterpreted comments and initiated formal legal proceedings to challenge the penalty.
Min’s legal woes extend beyond this case. She is currently facing lawsuits from Source Music, the agency behind LE SSERAFIM, and BELIFT LAB, home to ILLIT. Source Music has filed a ₩500 million KRW ($370,000 USD) defamation suit, while BELIFT LAB is pursuing a ₩2 billion KRW ($1.5 million USD) claim. Both companies accuse Min of spreading false information during a 2023 press conference, where she alleged HYBE broke promises to debut NewJeans first and claimed that ILLIT copied NewJeans’ concept.
This court ruling may influence the trajectory of those ongoing legal battles, placing additional pressure on the former creative executive who once helped shape the direction of some of K-pop’s biggest girl groups.
Sources: Daum
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