Min Heejin discusses her past relationships and clarifies allegations against HYBE during a court case regarding shareholder agreements.
December/19/2025 12:17Related Groups & Members
Former ADOR representative and head of entertainment planning company ooak records, Min Heejin, clarified suspicions regarding HYBE, ADOR's parent company, and disclosed her past relationships. Yesterday (18th) afternoon, at the Seoul Central District Court Civil Agreement 31 Division (Chief Judge: Nam In-soo), the 6th hearing of the lawsuit for confirmation of the termination of the shareholder agreement filed by Min Heejin against HYBE and the 4th hearing of the lawsuit for the payment of stock sale proceeds filed by Min Heejin against HYBE were held. On this day, HYBE's legal representative questioned whether there was an intention to lift the competition ban through the music label BANA (Beasts And Natives Alike). Min Heejin mentioned BANA and the former CEO of Kakao in a KakaoTalk chat. During the dispute between NewJeans members and the agency ADOR, rumors spread that NewJeans was preparing to transfer to BANA. In response, Min Heejin stated, "There was absolutely no intention to lift the competition ban. At that time, there was a contractual relationship between BANA and ADOR," explaining that she introduced BANA for the purpose of nurturing to HYBE's Bang Si-hyuk, but it did not materialize. Min Heejin also revealed for the first time in court that Kim Gi-hyun, the head of BANA from SM Entertainment's A&R team, was her former lover. While acknowledging the theory that she promised to give part of the put option amount to Kim Gi-hyun, she clarified, "(Kim Gi-hyun) is not my partner now, but he is producing NewJeans' songs and is a very capable person. I have to give him a reward, but I can't give it with the company's (ADOR) funds, so I decided to give part of it from my own share." Additionally, she stated that at the time of the secondary role contract, she was not in a romantic relationship with Kim Gi-hyun, adding, "We broke up before starting the NewJeans project." Min Heejin filed a lawsuit against HYBE for 26 billion won (approximately 27.4 million USD) for the exercise of the put option after leaving HYBE last November. If the court recognizes the right to exercise the put option, HYBE must pay Min Heejin an amount equivalent to 26 billion won. HYBE argued that the exercise of the put option is invalid due to the termination of the shareholder agreement in July last year. Meanwhile, Min Heejin claims she has the right to demand payment as she exercised the put option while the contract was not terminated. - Min Heejin refutes the content of the KakaoTalk with the shaman, saying "it is unrelated to the shareholder agreement" - Min Heejin plans to produce a new boy group? Also mentions NewJeans' situation, saying "everything bad is HYBE's fault."
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