HYBE Releases Official Statement on ‘No Charges’ for Min Hee-jin’s Occupational Breach of Trust

This is an announcement from HYBE.

Regarding the decision not to refer to prosecution the occupational breach of trust case that HYBE filed last year against former CEO Min Hee-jin and others, we plan to immediately file an objection with the prosecution today.

Since the police investigation, new circumstances have arisen, including the NewJeans members’ declaration of contract termination, and numerous new pieces of evidence have been submitted in related trials. Based on this, the court has very severely judged the actions of former CEO Min. As the appellate court for the injunction (Seoul High Court) determined that former CEO Min is “in a position of intentionally destroying the integrated structure that was the premise of the exclusive contract,” we intend to contest the non-referral decision through the objection process.

Additionally, regarding the case in which former CEO Min Hee-jin and others filed complaints last July against five HYBE executives for obstruction of business, violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation), and other charges, the investigative authorities have decided not to refer the case for prosecution due to lack of evidence. The investigative authorities determined that HYBE’s claims “cannot be considered false statements,” that “as they relate to matters of public interest, the purpose of defamation is not recognized,” and that “the KakaoTalk conversations are recognized as having been obtained through legitimate authority during the audit process.”

Furthermore, we inform you that all cases in which former CEO Min’s side indiscriminately filed complaints and reports against HYBE and affiliate executives and employees have also resulted in non-referral decisions. ▲The case in which former CEO Min Hee-jin reported BELIFT LAB executives and creative directors for defamation and false accusation ▲The case in which Team Bunnies reported BELIFT LAB executives and others for violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation) ▲The case in which Dolphiners Films CEO Shin Woo-seok filed a complaint against current ADOR management for violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation)—all have been decided as non-referral due to lack of charges or have been dismissed.

Thank you.