▲ This file photo taken on Sept. 11, 2025, shows Min Hee-jin, former chief executive of girl group NewJeans' agency ADOR. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- 

The legal team of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin on Wednesday strongly denied allegations that she attempted to lure away members of girl group NewJeans, dismissing the claims as groundless.

 

Kim Sun-woong, an attorney at law firm Ziam representing Min, made the remarks during a press conference held in Jongno, central Seoul, on Jan. 28, arguing that the so-called “NewJeans tampering” allegations have been falsely framed.

 

“The substance of the so-called ‘NewJeans tampering’ allegations against former CEO Min Hee-jin has nothing to do with her,” Kim said. “It is, in fact, a large-scale deception against the public carried out by a family member of one NewJeans member and a specific businessman, who sought to involve stock price manipulation forces under the pretext of boosting a particular company’s share price.”

 

HYBE and its subsidiary ADOR have raised suspicions that Min attempted to separate NewJeans from the company. In December last year, HYBE filed a lawsuit seeking 10 billion won (US$7.4 million) in damages against Min, claiming she bears significant responsibility for the group’s departure and delayed return.

 

Kim, however, refuted the allegations, calling them entirely untrue.

 

According to the attorney, Min went as far as attempting to reach a settlement with HYBE by relinquishing all of her rights under the shareholders’ agreement in an effort to facilitate NewJeans’ return and resumption of activities.

 

Kim claimed that during this process, a family member of one of the group’s members — identified as the member’s uncle — exploited Min’s situation and planned the alleged tampering scheme while drawing in forces engaged in stock price manipulation. The family member was described as having personal ties to key HYBE executives.

 

Kim further identified a company referred to as Company D as being involved in the alleged stock manipulation, releasing audio recordings involving Min and Company D’s chairman.

 

He also pointed out that Company D had once listed, and later removed, an agenda item to appoint the member’s uncle as an inside director at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, suggesting the company intended to capitalize on Min or NewJeans as so-called theme stocks.

 

Min’s legal team said it plans to file criminal complaints against media outlets that reported the tampering allegations, as well as against the chairman of Company D.

 

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