HYBE Addresses Min Hee-jin's Dismissal Controversy

In a significant development, HYBE has officially responded regarding the dismissal of former Adore CEO Min Hee-jin. The company confirmed that the shareholder agreement between HYBE and Min has already been terminated, allowing for cancellation under specified circumstances, and emphasized that this termination is unrelated to Min's dismissal by Adore's board.

HYBE noted, “A legal action has been initiated to confirm the termination of the shareholder agreement, so we await legal judgment.” They also expressed regret over Min's decision to not follow the Adore board's resolution, given her previous emphasis on independent management for the company.

Earlier, Min Hee-jin's side filed a request for a provisional injunction at the Seoul Central District Court to convene an extraordinary shareholders' meeting and reappoint a board member. They argued that with an upcoming board reappointment deadline, the request was made to reappoint Min before elevating her back to CEO.

The situation intensified when the popular K-pop group NewJeans conducted an urgent live broadcast, calling for Min's reinstatement. The group urged HYBE to make a wise decision by the 25th to restore Min to her original position at Adore.