Min Hee-jin, Ex-CEO of Ador, Exonerated from Breach of Trust Claims

On July 15, it was revealed that Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of the entertainment label Ador and the creative force behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, was acquitted of breach of trust allegations. This case will not proceed to prosecution.

Last April, Min’s previous employer, Hybe, lodged a criminal complaint accusing her of planning to gain complete control of Ador, a label in which Hybe held an 80% stake at the time.

Min refuted these claims, asserting that her 18% ownership made it impossible for her to take over management.

In August of that year, she stepped down as Ador’s CEO but continued her role as a producer for NewJeans and was part of Ador’s board. She eventually resigned from her director role in November and departed from the label.

On Tuesday, Min’s representatives shared that Hybe had initially filed a criminal complaint against her for breach of trust last April.

They announced, “Today, we were informed that the police will not pursue either of the two cases presented by Hybe, labeling them as ‘no suspicion.’”

Hybe has since declared its intention to contest this decision, claiming new developments, including NewJeans members terminating their contracts, and additional evidence has emerged in related trials.

Previously, the members of NewJeans voiced their support for Min Hee-jin. In September of last year, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein hosted a live stream discussing the conflict with Hybe, mentioning it had a direct impact on their lives.

In the stream, they expressed a desire for Min’s reinstatement as CEO, stating: “What we want is the original Ador, where CEO Min Hee-jin leads both management and production.”