Min Hee Jin, head of ooak records and former ADOR CEO, has made a sudden proposal to HYBE that may sound emotional—but actually reads as a calculated negotiation move.
On February 25th, Min held a one-sided press conference on the first-round court ruling and her next steps. She arrived 10 minutes late, read a prepared statement, and left without taking questions. “In exchange for giving up 25.6 billion KRW (approx. 17.8 million USD), I want to end all disputes directed at me, the NewJeans members, and the fandom,” she said, presenting the members as the biggest reason behind her decision.
At the center of Min’s proposal is her willingness to give up the 25.6 billion KRW put option payout she won in court—on the condition that HYBE withdraw all civil and criminal lawsuits against her and those tied to NewJeans.
HYBE has already filed a roughly 43 billion KRW civil suit against Min and former NewJeans member Danielle, placing immediate financial pressure on both. The payout Min is offering to forfeit is currently frozen after HYBE secured a stay of enforcement, meaning she cannot access the money for now and a final ruling could take years.
By leveraging a payout she cannot yet collect, Min is effectively proposing both sides walk away clean. “Five members who should be happily on stage are instead split between the stage and the courtroom,” she said.
She also pointed to growing corporate governance pressure on HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk, noting that under strengthened shareholder-focused laws, resolving entertainment-related risk would be “a wise decision for shareholders.” The remark has been interpreted as a pointed nod to Bang’s own ongoing legal exposure—and a signal that prolonging the dispute could invite shareholder backlash.
Separately, HYBE has deposited 29.25 billion won in court to block provisional enforcement of the ruling ordering it to pay Min roughly 25.5 billion won for her shares.
>> HYBE Blocks Min Hee Jin’s Seizure Attempt as Appeals Battle Begins
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