Min Hee Jin, CEO of ooak Records, has made a striking proposal to HYBE—offering to forgo the massive payout she won in the first trial in exchange for ending all ongoing legal disputes.
At a press conference held at 1:51 p.m. on February 25th KST at Kyowon Challenge Hall in Jongno gu, Seoul, Min stated, “The reason I stand here today is to announce that I have decided to exchange the 25.6 billion KRW (~18 million USD) I would receive from this victory for another value.”
She continued, “25.6 billion KRW is an extraordinary sum that one may never encounter in a lifetime. But there is a value I desire far more than this amount. In place of accepting the 25.6 billion KRW, I propose that HYBE immediately halt all ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits and bring every dispute to an end.”
Min explained that the biggest reason behind her decision was NewJeans. “I can no longer watch a reality where five members who should be happily standing on stage must instead stand in courtrooms,” she said. “All lawsuits and complaints directed at the artists, their families, and the fandom must be withdrawn in order to stop the reckless noise.”
Previously, on the 12th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Min’s favor in her stock purchase payment lawsuit, ordering HYBE to pay 25.5 billion KRW (approximately 28.6 billion KRW including associates). The court determined that there was insufficient evidence to support HYBE’s claims of “management takeover” or “tampering,” siding with Min.
Reflecting on the ruling, Min said, “The sensational frame of a management takeover has been revealed as an illusion. Being recognized that my concerns were valid managerial judgments has been a source of comfort, washing away two years of wounds.”
However, HYBE has appealed the first trial decision, and on the 24th the court granted HYBE’s request to suspend compulsory execution, effectively postponing payment. Observers interpret Min’s latest move as a bold attempt to push for comprehensive reconciliation rather than prolonging the legal battle.
In closing, Min addressed HYBE and ADOR, saying, “Please create an environment where the NewJeans members can freely pursue their dreams. The 25.6 billion KRW is not greater than restoring a healthy K pop ecosystem and the peaceful daily lives of artists.”
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