Prosecutors decline to indict Hybe, Belift Lab executives in cases filed by Min Hee-jin

Prosecutors have declined to indict any of the Hybe and Belift Lab executives that Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador and current head of OKeh Records, had filed criminal complaints against.

According to legal sources, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Division 1, led by Chief Prosecutor Hwang Su-yeon, dismissed all complaints on May 27. Min had filed them between July and December 2024, targeting six Hybe executives, including former CEO Park Ji-won, and four Belift Lab executives, including CEO Kim Tae-ho.

Min had accused the Hybe executives of obstruction of business and defamation, alleging they distributed a press release in April 2024 claiming she had consulted a shaman on management decisions at Ador — the so-called "shaman management" allegations — and that Ador's leadership had plotted to terminate NewJeans' contracts.

Prosecutors determined the press release could not be considered false, citing evidence that Min had in fact discussed Ador's management affairs with a shaman. They also considered a court ruling that upheld the validity of the exclusive contracts between NewJeans and Ador, which noted circumstances surrounding Min's alleged attempt to break away independently.

A separate complaint alleging violations of information and communications network laws — stemming from Hybe's access to Min's Ador email account and a former Ador vice president's KakaoTalk messages and cloud data — was also rejected. Prosecutors found that Hybe had lawfully reviewed the materials under its audit authority.

The complaints against Belift Lab were likewise dismissed. Min had filed a defamation complaint over a YouTube video the company released arguing that its act Illit had not copied NewJeans, and had filed a counter-complaint of false accusation against CEO Kim Tae-ho after he filed a complaint against her.

Prosecutors rejected Min's claims, citing a court finding that Illit could not be considered a copy of NewJeans. They concluded that Belift Lab's rebuttal video constituted an expression of opinion and that Kim's complaint did not amount to a false accusation.

Meanwhile, Ador is pursuing a damages lawsuit worth approximately 33.09 billion won ($24 million) against Min and former NewJeans member Danielle.

지하철 ‘임산부 배려석’ 자리 양보 요청하자…“권리 아니다” 끝까지 버틴 남성

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10769004