Min Hee-jin’s Lawyer Rejects ‘Tampering’ Claims, Cites Stock Plot

• Min Hee-jin's legal team claimed she was not a part of any stock manipulation and ended contact with the alleged businessman after one meeting.
• Min Hee-jin's legal team further held a NewJeans member's relative responsible for originally suggesting NewJeans defection from ADOR.
• The debate has escalated into several lawsuits, indicating potential market violations, while also revealing governance issues of the K-pop sector.

Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin's legal team has denied attempting to remove NewJeans from the agency. They said that the matter originated from an alleged stock manipulation attempt by a member's relative and an external businessman.

At a surprise press conference in central Seoul's Jongno District, Min's attorney Kim Sun-woong said that the claims were made to frame Min for "tampering," a K-pop industry phrase that refers to efforts to persuade artists under exclusive contracts to defect agencies. He further stated that allegations come up amidst rising legal conflicts between Min, ADOR, and NewJeans-related parties.

Min Hee-jin’s Legal Team Denies Plot to Pull NewJeans From ADOR

Kim stated that several text conversations and audio recordings show that a NewJeans member's paternal uncle and the businessman attempted to use the group and Min to inflate the businessman's company stock price. The plot reportedly included NewJeans' withdrawal from ADOR while implying Min's involvement to boost market sentiment.

According to attorney Kim, Min rejected the proposal, cut off contact with the individuals, and was unaware of any manipulation plan. He added that Min met the businessman only once, in September 2024, after being introduced by the family member Lee, and ended communication soon afterward. 

The alleged stock scam became public in early 2025, when the businessman, identified by Korean media as DAVOLINK chairman Park Jung-kyu, said Min met him at his Seoul home while still working as an internal director at ADOR. Park stated that Min proposed a ₩ 5 billion (~ $3.48 million USD) investment connected to NewJeans, which he declined due to risk concerns. Alternatively, he proposed that Min could take over the management of DAVOLINK by obtaining shares, a strategy that would also allow Lee to run the tech firm in his own name while enabling Park to exit through a sale of his stakes.

Min had earlier categorically denied Park’s account, with her legal team backing her claim. Min’s lawyer highlighted that she did not pursue any investment or acquisition discussions and that she had no further contact with Park beyond their initial meeting.

Min's legal team also disputed Dispatch and Tenasia's reports that presented the claimed chats as an excuse for NewJeans to leave ADOR, labeling it as an erroneous narrative. Kim claimed that the suggestion to remove the group from the label came from Lee, the family member, and not Min. As noted by Korea JoongAng Daily, the legal team of the ex-ADOR CEO cited a recorded phone call in which the relative reportedly admitted responsibility for the same, while also downplaying the situation.

The dispute is part of a larger conflict involving ADOR and its parent business, HYBE. In mid-2024, HYBE conducted an internal audit, accusing Min of seeking to grab management authority and split NewJeans from the label. Later that year, Min was ousted from her position as legal controversies further ramped up in Dec 2025. ADOR filed a damages suit totaling ₩ 43.1 billion against Min, former NewJeans member Danielle, and one of her relatives, holding them accountable for the disputes and the group's late return.

Lawsuits Fracture NewJeans as Governance Fight Widens

The fallout has split NewJeans' lineup. In Dec 2025, along with the lawsuit, ADOR dissolved Danielle's exclusive contract. Other members, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein, have reentered under ADOR, but Minji’s joining is still under discussion. Courts have maintained the standing regarding the group's contracts, which limit independent activity, thus boosting ADOR's legal position.

Nevertheless, Min's legal team stated in the recent press conference that she had sought a resolution to the issue, including agreeing to give up shareholder rights to help the firm return to regular operations. The legal team also questioned whether ADOR and HYBE were informed of the suspected stock manipulation activity before it became public, without making any direct charges.

Altogether, the conflict now includes entertainment contracts, company governance, and capital markets law, with Kim revealing intentions to report the situation to authorities for possible violations of South Korea's Capital Markets Act. What began as an accusation of idol "tampering" has grown into a broader accountability test in K-pop's corporate ecosystem, where celebrity power, family engagement, and financial markets are increasingly getting intertwined.

As claims of misconduct and market manipulation grow, the ADOR-Min Hee-jin feud has emerged as a significant warning sign for the industry. The case is currently being closely monitored to establish the future limitations of governance and contractual power in K-pop's tightly controlled intellectual property landscape.