Min Hee Jin has made a dramatic proposal to HYBE days after securing a major victory. She offered to give up 25.5 billion won if the company agrees to end all ongoing lawsuits involving herself, NewJeans members, and staff.
Min Hee Jin Offers HYBE a Peace Deal
Speaking at a press conference in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 25, Min said she is willing to walk away from the court-awarded sum in exchange for peace. This was her fourth press conference since the conflict with HYBE began nearly two years ago.
She admitted that money was “extremely valuable” to her considering she recently founded her label and is preparing for a boy group debut.
“It was truly a long tunnel until we won the first-trial victory in 2026,” Min Hee Jin said, referring to the recent ruling in her favor. She shared that the recent ruling “felt like comfort that healed the wounds of the past two years.”
Earlier this month, the 31st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court dismissed HYBE’s lawsuit seeking to confirm the termination of its shareholder agreement with Min. In a separate case related to her put option, the court ordered HYBE to pay her 25.5 billion won (around $17.8m).
However, HYBE has appealed the ruling, and the court has since accepted the company’s request for a stay of execution. That means the payment will be paused until the appellate court reaches a final decision.
Despite the legal victory, Min Hee Jin made it clear that money is not her priority.
She said “something is more important” than the money she was awarded through court. She was referring to the well-being of NewJeans.
Min Hee Jin expressed,
I can no longer endure a reality in which five members who should be happily performing on stage must instead be divided. Some standing on stage and some in the courtroom. Neither the fans nor the members can feel happy witnessing this situation.
The former ADOR CEO proposed that HYBE immediately stop all civil and criminal lawsuits. According to her, this includes legal actions against her, the NewJeans members, partner companies, former ADOR employees, and any related disputes that have affected the fandom.
Background of Min Hee Jin-HYBE Conflict
The conflict between Min and HYBE began in April 2024 when HYBE launched an internal audit, accusing her of attempting to seize management control of ADOR. Min Hee Jin denied the allegations and was dismissed as CEO in August 2024.
In November of that year, she notified HYBE that she would exercise her put option, but the company rejected the move. They argued that the shareholder agreement had already been terminated.
Tensions escalated further when NewJeans announced plans to leave ADOR following Min’s dismissal. However, a court later ruled in October 2025 that the group’s exclusive contract with ADOR remains valid until 2029.
The situation became more complicated when ADOR filed a damages lawsuit reportedly worth around 43.1 billion won involving former member Danielle, a family member, and Min herself. For those unversed, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein have returned to ADOR, Danielle was removed fromthe group, and Minji is still in talks to resume activities.
During the press conference, Min directly appealed to HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk to come together through music and creative endeavors.” Min Hee Jin expressed her affection for NewJeans, saying, “Launching NewJeans came from a creative vision I still cherish.”
She added, “In this era where corporate responsibility is becoming more important, minimizing risk and choosing harmony will be the wisest decision for shareholders and fans.”
Min also spoke about her future, “I will now shed the label of the former ADOR CEO and walk a new path as CEO of OOAK Records,” she said.
She hoped to meet people “on the stage of creation” instead of “wasteful press conferences.”
HYBE’s Response to Min Hee Jin’s Peace Deal
HYBE released an official response to her proposal. It seems they won’t be accepting her proposal as they have “no position” on the matter.
After suffering a decisive loss to Min Hee Jin, HYBE filed an appeal on February 19. The company may issue a detailed response to Min Hee Jin’s proposal later to end the dispute. It is expected to focus its full efforts on the remaining legal battles.
