On February 25, 2026, Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR and current CEO of ooak records, held a pivotal press conference to address her recent legal victories and present a bold proposal to HYBE.
Following a favorable ruling in a high-stakes lawsuit regarding her put option, which ordered HYBE to pay her roughly 25.6 billion won (approximately $17.8 million), Min Hee Jin surprised the industry by offering to relinquish this entire sum in exchange for a complete cessation of all ongoing legal hostilities.
This proposal marks a potential turning point in a multi-year conflict that has deeply affected the K-pop landscape.
A Long Journey Toward Legal Vindication
Min Hee Jin began the conference by expressing her gratitude to the court for their thorough examination of the facts.
She framed her recent victory as the conclusion of a “long tunnel” that began with the initial injunction in 2024.
According to Min, the court’s ruling effectively dismantled the narrative that she had attempted a “management-control takeover,” instead validating her concerns about creative ethics as legitimate management judgments.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, she stated:
“From our victory in the 2024 injunction proceedings to the police decision in 2025 not to forward the case to the prosecution, and now to this victory in today’s 2026 first trial sentence—it has truly been a long tunnel.”
She further noted that the court’s decision felt like comfort for the wounds of the past two years.
She addressed the public directly, apologizing for the fatigue the dispute had caused and signaling her intent to move forward:
“The court has made clear that the sensational framing of ‘a management-control takeover’ and ‘tampering’ was nothing but an illusion… I feel a sense of indebtedness for the fatigue I unintentionally caused the public throughout this process.”
The Proposal: Trading Billions for the Well-being of NewJeans
The core of the press conference was Min Hee Jin’s proposal to HYBE. She expressed a willingness to trade her 25.6 billion won settlement for the termination of every civil and criminal case between the two parties.
Her primary motivation, she claimed, was the protection and future of the group NewJeans.
Min emphasized that the group’s members, their families, former ADOR employees, and even the fans have suffered enough from the “reckless noise and conflict.” She argued that creative work cannot thrive in a litigious environment:
“I can no longer stand by and watch the reality in which five members, who should be happily on stage, are forced into a situation where someone is on the stage while someone else is in the courtroom… with hearts torn to pieces like this, you can never create good culture.”
Min challenged HYBE and Chairman Bang Si Hyuk to prioritize the health of the K-pop ecosystem over financial or legal retribution.
She urged them to return to “the place of creation” and move their competition from the courtroom to the stage:
“I propose that we immediately halt all ongoing civil and criminal litigation and bring all disputes to a complete close… The place HYBE and I belong is not the courtroom but the stage of creation.”
A New Chapter with ooak records
Looking ahead, Min Hee Jin announced her transition away from her “former ADOR CEO” label to focus entirely on her new venture, ooak records.
She expressed a desire to nurture new talent and build a business with a fresh direction, free from the shadow of legal battles. Her final plea to HYBE was to honor their promises to the artists:
“I ask that the current ADOR make it a reality to keep the promise mentioned in court: ‘If NewJeans returns, we will treat them well.’ Please create an environment where all five NewJeans members can come together and freely pursue their dreams to their hearts’ content.”
By offering to walk away from a life-changing sum of money, Min Hee Jin has placed the ball firmly in HYBE’s court.
She concluded the conference by noting the KOSPI’s record-breaking performance and suggesting that reconciliation is the wisest path for shareholders and fans alike:
“HYBE and Chairman Bang Si Hyuk: now, let’s meet not in court but in the place of creation… choosing reconciliation and removing risk from the entertainment industry will be the wisest management decision for shareholders and fans alike.”
Whether HYBE accepts this olive branch remains to be seen, but the proposal has undoubtedly shifted the narrative toward a desire for industry-wide healing.
