Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin Wins Defamation Lawsuit
This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin has won a defamation lawsuit against individuals who posted malicious comments about her online. The lawsuit was filed in response to defamatory remarks left under news articles related to her management dispute with HYBE.
On March 19, legal sources confirmed that the Seoul Central District Court ruled partially in Min’s favor in her case against eight online users. The court ordered each person to compensate her with amounts ranging from ₩50,000 KRW (about $34.50 USD) to ₩100,000 KRW (about $69 USD). As neither side appealed, the decision is now final.
Min’s legal battle dates back to April of last year when HYBE accused her of trying to take control of ADOR and separate it from the company. The issue gained public attention, prompting Min to hold two press conferences denying the claims. Following the second press conference, numerous negative comments targeting her appeared online.
In response, Min pursued legal action, arguing that the comments caused her emotional distress and sought ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,070 USD) per person in damages. While the court agreed that some comments were defamatory, it awarded lower compensation, citing legal precedent in South Korea, where damages for emotional harm are typically not high.
The highest compensation of ₩100,000 KRW (about $69 USD) was given for a comment containing a direct insult, while others received ₩50,000 KRW (about $34.50 USD). Some remarks, such as “cunning,” were not considered defamatory, as the court determined they were opinions rather than outright attacks.
Min’s dispute with HYBE led to her removal as ADOR’s CEO in August last year. She has since left the company. Meanwhile, ADOR recently sought a court order to prevent former NewJeans members, now known as NJZ, from promoting. A ruling on that matter is expected by the end of March.
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