Min Hee-jin seeks to freeze HYBE assets after 25.5 billion won court victory

ADOR executive Min Hee-jin has moved to secure payment following her recent court victory against HYBE by seeking to freeze the company’s bank accounts.

According to reports, Min filed an application for a seizure and collection order targeting HYBE’s deposit accounts. She shared a document on social media confirming that the request had been received, marking a step toward enforcing the court’s ruling.

The development follows a February 12 decision by the Seoul Central District Court, which ruled in Min’s favor in a dispute over her shareholder agreement. The court ordered HYBE to pay approximately 25.5 billion won after recognizing her right to exercise a put option tied to shares in ADOR.

The court rejected HYBE’s claims that Min had committed a serious breach of contract. Judges reviewed evidence, including KakaoTalk messages, and concluded that the materials did not demonstrate a concrete attempt to separate the label’s girl group NewJeans from HYBE. The ruling stated that discussions about potential independence and outside investment fell within the scope of normal executive considerations and would have required HYBE’s approval to take effect.

Following the verdict, Min also addressed separate media reports alleging that she had sought financial backing from a Japanese investor to facilitate a split. In a social media statement, she denied the claims and criticized the reporting, calling it misleading. She further indicated that legal action could be pursued against the spread of what she described as false information.

HYBE has announced plans to appeal the decision. However, the current ruling remains in effect, reinforcing the validity of the shareholder agreement and confirming Min’s entitlement to compensation.