Min Hee Jin vs ADOR: All Details, Explanations, And More

Former ADOR ceo Min Hee Jin won against the ADOR in a long, drawn corporate battle that started in August 2024 after her removal from the position of chief executive officer of ADOR. The Seoul Central District Court directed ADOR to pay 25.5 billion Won to MHJ in the concerned case. You must go through the article for the background and detailed explanation of the Min Hee Jin vs ADOR, NewJeans exclusive contract with ADOR, Danielle’s breach of contract, and more. 

Min Hee Jin Early Career and HYBE Entry

Former ADOR ceo and creative director of K-pop girl group NewJeans, Min Hee Jin, started her career as a graphic designer at SM Entertainment in 2002. Min Hee Jin rose to the position of creative director and directed the visual branding of K-pop groups like SHINee, f(x), Girls’ Generation, Red Velvet, and EXO. Later, in 2019, Min Hee Jin joined HYBE as chief branding officer and oversaw the rebranding of the company to HYBE Entertainment. 

In November 2021, management appointed Min Hee Jin CEO of HYBE Entertainment’s subsidiary company ADOR, or All Doors One Room. While NewJeans under Min came to prominence on July 22, 2022, they made their debut with the EP NewJeans on August 01, 2022. 

“Our label won’t hesitate to accept new challenges and strive to create artist IP and content containing ADOR’s unique philosophy.” – Min Hee Jin 

Shareholders’ Agreement: Bone of Contention

HYBE unveiled ADOR in 2021 with Min Hee Jin at the helm of the subsidiary company. ADOR debuted NewJeans, and it became a huge success in the K-pop industry. Following this, parent company HYBE Entertainment signed a shareholders’ agreement with ADOR ceo Min Hee Jin to incentivise her to remain part of the company and add value to NewJeans’ greater success in the coming years. The shareholders’ agreement signed in March 2023 had certain terms mentioned in the points below.

Shareholding Parties	Percentage of Stake
HYBE Entertainment	80%
Min Hee Jin	18%
Other Important Members	Remainder

• Min Hee Jin had 18% stake in HYBE subsidiary company ADOR. Making her a minority shareholder in the firm.
  
• The most controversial one of all was 15% put options, which depend on the operating profits of the ADOR.
  
  • Value = Operating Profits x Put Options Number
    

• She cannot sell her shares to any outsider, and HYBE remains the first in line to make a bid to acquire her shares.
  
• Alleged creative autonomy for ADOR and minimal managerial interference from the parent company HYBE Entertainment. 

Emergency Audit Pushed by HYBE

As the classic case of investor vs aspiring founder came to the streets of the K-pop industry, tensions started propping up between the parties concerned, and on April 22, 2024, HYBE launched an emergency audit of its subsidiary ADOR. The emergency audit served as the much-awaited spark that ignited the legal battle between former ADOR ceo Min Hee Jin and HYBE Entertainment. 

The parent label HYBE launched a sudden audit in suspicion of ADOR trying to break away from HYBE, and Min Hee Jin is plotting against the label. As part of the audit, computers were seized, executives were questioned, and private messages and emails were investigated. More importantly, HYBE claimed certain documents and computer logs suggesting MHJ was trying to steal away the management rights from HYBE. 

In response, Min Hee Jin highlighted the whistleblower incident where she accused HYBE’s sublabel Belift Lab of copying NewJeans concept and branding for its newly launched K-pop girl group IILLIT in 2024. It makes more sense when she explained in an interview with Ilgan Sports that I have never attempted to seize control of ADOR as HYBE claims, as how can I seize control of the sublabel with a minority stake of just 18% in the firm? 

What Options Did MHJ have?

In the corporate scene, it is relatively difficult to take over the company with a minority stake that is less than 50% of the firm. However, in a rare bet, MHJ had the following options to even take over the sublabel ADOR as claimed by HYBE. 

• Shareholders’ Agreement has some extraordinary powers like veto power, non-removal from the boards, call options, etc. This would have put MHJ in a very strong position operationally, but it does not amount to taking over the company. 

• Another case can be where HYBE is obliged to sell shares to Min Hee Jin under contract. Simply put, call options, however, depend on the maximum limit and value of the buyout set by the contract. 

• MHJ could have convinced board members to side with her, but this case is also tough and seems unreal as HYBE plotted board members as per its whims and fancies. 

Though MHJ had options to take over the sublabel ADOR, all the options seemed unreal and difficult to execute, making HYBE’s claims somewhat debatable in the real world scenario. Later, the court also affirmed the same. 

HYBE Attempt to Oust MHJ

The case between the two was exposed more publicly when HYBE arranged an extraordinary board meeting on May 31, 2024, just to remove Min Hee Jin as the ceo of ADOR. In response, MHJ filed an injunction request with the Seoul Central District Court to prevent her removal from the post, as it is unfair and violates her shareholders’ agreement with parent label HYBE Entertainment. 

Seoul Central District Court granted the injunction and halted the removal of Min Hee Jin as the CEO of the sublabel ADOR. The court froze the voting rights of HYBE and observed that, though there were signs of evidence of MHJ gaining more independence from the firm, there is not sufficient evidence to remove her from the position of ADOR ceo immediately. 

Later in June 2024, HYBE sublabel Source Music, home to K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM, filed a ₩500 million defamation and mismanagement suit against ADOR ceo Min Hee Jin for her alleged press conference. 

HYBE Terminated the Shareholders’ Contract

After a futile attempt to oust MHJ from the ADOR management, HYBE Entertainment terminated the shareholders’ agreement signed with Min and snatched away important clauses guaranteed by the contract. On August 19, 2024, HYBE released its biannual report and announced the termination of its contract with MHJ. The parent company also confirmed to the court. 

Termination of the shareholders’ agreement resulted in the removal of prominent immunities granted to Min Hee Jin at the time of swearing in as ADOR ceo.

• Removal of legal leverage to be ADOR ceo until November 2026. As per the contract, it was difficult for HYBE to remove MHJ from her position until the deadline.
  
• HYBE was no longer liable to buy back her 75% stake in the ADOR as part of the put options guaranteed by the shareholders’ contract.  

Ouster of Min Hee Jin From ADOR

On August 27, 2024, the ADOR board replaced MHJ from the position of ADOR ceo after the failure to remove her four months ago. The move came after HYBE revoked the shareholders’ agreement with Min Hee Jin and removed her from the management. The board elected HYBE chief human resources manager Kim Ju-Young as the new ceo separating production from management. 

Reportedly, HYBE was separating production and management in all its sister organisations, and ADOR was the only exception till August 27, 2024. The share price of HYBE Entertainment also reacted positively to the decision following the ease of management and swift procedures for the firm. Min Hee Jin remained part of the board as an inside director and producer for K-pop girl group sensation NewJeans. 

HYBE contended that Min was present at the board meeting through video conference, and the decision was made in her presence. However, MHJ’s legal representative said in a statement that, “the decision was taken without consultation with Min Hee Jin and will come up with an official position after discussion.” 

NewJeans Members Bid Support to Min Hee Jin

All five NewJeans members, including Hanni, Minji, Hyein, Danielle, and Haerin, went live on YouTube with a new channel @nwjns and shared now deleted video. The members expressed their apology for the live, and explained their side of the story to the K-pop fans. Girl group members also affirmed the importance of Min Hee Jin in their career and success, and why they like MHJ as the producer and ceo of the ADOR. 

In the September 2024 live on YouTube, NewJeans members made clear that they want HYBE to reinstate MHJ as the ceo and producer of the sister label ADOR for the good of the company and the group. However, Min also filed an injunction on October 29, 2024, in the court, which Seoul Central District Court seemingly rejected. 

Fast forward to November 2024, Min Hee Jin decided to resign from her position at ADOR and filed a criminal complaint against HYBE CCO Park Tae-hee and PR director Cho. As per the statement, Park and Cho have failed to fulfil their obligations and caused significant damage to the K-pop group NewJeans and ADOR. Following this, NewJeans members also terminated their exclusive contracts with ADOR. NewJeans termination of contract on November 28, 2024, added a new dimension to the already tangled legal dispute. 

ADOR does not have the will or ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue – New Jeans Members

Min Hee Jin Workplace Harassment Allegations

Min Hee Jin was also embroiled in workplace harassment allegations put up by a former ADOR employee, Mr A, in August 2024. According to Mr A, Min Hee Jin’s verbal abuse caused him severe mental distress and the workplace harassment done by Mr B, a close aide of Min Hee Jin, also gravely affected him. 

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office shared that Min Hee Jin’s actions constitute a case of alleged workplace harassment, and she even failed to conduct an objective investigation into the harassment under Article 76. However, Min claimed that the employee’s claims are untrue and submitted an objection to the fine laid by the court in April 2025. 

Article 76

Article 76 of the Labour Standards Act lays down that employers who receive or become aware of workplace harassment must conduct an objective investigation. The employers who commits the workplace harassment may face a fine of up to ₩10 million, and those who do not conduct an objective investigation may be fined around ₩5 million. 

NewJeans vs ADOR/HYBE

NewJeans members held an emergency press conference on November 28, 2024, and terminated their exclusive contract with ADOR w.e.f. November 29, 2024, to which sister label ADOR reacted by filing a legal suit in the Seoul Central District Court for confirmation of NewJeans members’ exclusive contract with the company. The key questions in front of the court were as follows: 

• Is the exclusive contract between ADOR and NewJeans valid?
  
• Did the company breach its obligations under the exclusive contract?
  
• Is there a breakdown of mutual trust between parties?
  
• Is NewJeans allowed to contain independent activities outside the agency?

Let’s find the answer to each question posed in front of the court as a result of the NewJeans and ADOR contract confirmation dispute. 

Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of ADOR and held that the 7-year exclusive contract till 2029 between the music label and NewJeans members stands valid on October 30, 2025. Before this, the court had accepted an injunction filed by ADOR to prevent NewJeans from conducting activities independent of the company. 

Imposed penalties of 1 billion Won on each member if they were found engaging in each brand deals and concerts outside the purview of their exclusive contract with the ADOR, and enforced penalties for the same in May 2025. Moreover, rejected the appeal against the injunction filed by the members of the K-pop girl group NewJeans. 

Did all members return to ADOR?

Explaining the contract breach between Ador and Danielle simply
by u/Juenblue in kpop_uncensored

On November 12, Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR respecting their exclusive contract with the firm, while Minji, Hanni, and Danielle announced their return to the company. All the members eventually returned to ADOR, but the company terminated Danielle’s exclusive contract, citing breach of contract, independent activities, and potential damage to the company’s reputation in the industry. The company eventually filed a lawsuit against Danielle, her family member, and Min Hee Jin for breach of contract and trust.

Frequently Asked Questions