ENTERTAINMENT
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Belift Lab Executives
According to a statement released on the 22nd by Min's legal representative, Sejong Law Firm, Min has accused Belift Lab's CEO Kim Tae-ho, Vice CEO Choi Yoon-hyuk, and others of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. Additionally, they have filed a lawsuit seeking 5 billion KRW in damages from Belift Lab.
Min's legal team claims, "CEO Kim Tae-ho falsely accused Min of delaying a civil lawsuit filed by Belift Lab, which is a clear falsehood." They further stated, "We expect that the counterclaim filed by Min will also be reviewed during the first hearing scheduled for January next year. We urge Belift Lab to participate sincerely."
They also mentioned, "CEO Kim Tae-ho and others have spread numerous false statements through a YouTube video on June 10 and a statement on October 7. We hope that appropriate criminal penalties and recognition of liability for damages will be imposed on them."
Previously, Belift Lab had filed a lawsuit against Min seeking 2 billion KRW in damages, with the first hearing set for January 10 next year.
The conflict surfaced when Min accused Belift Lab's group I-Land of plagiarizing the group NewJeans, a claim that began in April. Min's team alleges that Belift Lab requested NewJeans' planning documents during the conceptual stage of I-Land, asserting that plagiarism occurred from the planning phase. Belift Lab has denied these allegations.
Recently, Min announced her resignation from her position as an internal director at ADOR. On the morning of her resignation, she filed a lawsuit to claim payment based on the exercise of a put option. Min claims she is entitled to approximately 26 billion KRW, calculated based on the average operating profit of ADOR for the past two years, as per the shareholder agreement with HYBE. However, HYBE maintains that the shareholder agreement, which forms the basis for the put option, was terminated in July, leaving the decision on Min's ability to exercise the put option to the court.
Thank you.
Reporter Min-kyung Lee, TenAsia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr
