Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin was subjected to a provisional seizure of her apartment in Yongsan District, Seoul, with ADOR listed as the creditor.
According to confirmed court records, the 21st Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court approved ADOR’s application on December 23, 2024, seeking a provisional seizure of Min’s real estate assets worth approximately 500 million KRW (about 376,000 USD). A provisional seizure is a preservative legal measure intended to secure monetary claims or recoverable assets, and it prohibits the disposal or use of the seized property until the conclusion of the main lawsuit.
The seizure is linked to an incident that occurred during Min’s tenure as ADOR CEO. At the time, an ADOR-affiliated styling directing team leader, identified as Mr. A, who was responsible for styling work for NewJeans, allegedly received styling service fees directly from an external advertiser in his personal capacity. The National Tax Service later determined that approximately 700 million KRW (about 526,000 USD) in service fees should have been recognized as ADOR’s corporate revenue and imposed additional tax penalties on the company.
ADOR subsequently asserted that Min bore liability for damages incurred as a result of the matter and sought compensation. The court accepted this claim in approving the provisional seizure. In connection with the ruling, Ilyo News attempted to contact Min on January 13 but was unable to reach her.
The matter had previously been mentioned during a hearing held on November 27, 2024, by the 31st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court, in connection with lawsuits between HYBE and Min concerning the confirmation of the termination of a shareholder agreement and claims related to the exercise of a put option.
This is not the first time Min has faced a provisional seizure of real estate. On November 11, 2024, a former ADOR employee, identified as Mr. B, filed for and obtained a provisional seizure of approximately 100 million KRW (about 67,874 USD) on a residence owned by Min in Mapo District, Seoul.
The Yongsan apartment currently under seizure was purchased by Min on September 16, 2019, for approximately 1.645 billion KRW (about 1.24 million USD). Property registry records show that the maximum secured debt at the time was set at 540 million KRW (about 406,000 USD). Min is confirmed to have fully repaid the loan by November 26, 2020.
Meanwhile, following Min’s dismissal amid disputes with HYBE, the members of NewJeans demanded her reinstatement. After those demands were not accepted, the members claimed in November 2024 that their exclusive contracts with ADOR had been terminated due to alleged contractual violations.
ADOR maintained that the contracts remained valid and filed a lawsuit in December 2024 seeking confirmation of contract validity, along with an injunction to prevent the members’ independent activities pending a final ruling. The court accepted the injunction and ruled in ADOR’s favor at the first-instance trial. Following the ruling, Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein expressed their intention to return to ADOR, while Danielle was removed from the group.
On December 29, 2024, ADOR filed a damages lawsuit seeking approximately 43.1 billion KRW (about 32.4 million USD) against former NewJeans member Danielle and Min Hee Jin, stating that both parties bore significant responsibility for triggering the dispute, as well as for the group’s departure and delayed return.
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