Court Dismisses Min Hee Jin’s Claims Against Source Music

The Seoul Western District Court has dismissed all claims made by former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin regarding Source Music in relation to the contract validity lawsuit involving NJZ, the group formerly known as NewJeans. This ruling raises significant questions about the ongoing ₩500 million KRW (approximately $345,000 USD) damages lawsuit that Source Music has filed against Min, which is set for its fourth hearing on November 7, 2024.

The lawsuit, initiated in July 2024, follows Min’s public accusations alleging that Source Music had replicated her debut strategy for NJZ. She claimed during press conferences that Source Music neglected certain members of NJZ while under its management and asserted that it was unjust for LE SSERAFIM to debut prior to NJZ. In response, Source Music has strongly refuted these allegations, stating, “Min Hee Jin’s claim that Source Music copied her launch strategy is false. Source Music never copied any plans proposed by then-CBO Min Hee Jin and has never acknowledged her complaints.”

In its defense, Source Music clarified that feedback provided by Bang Si Hyuk in 2020 regarding Min’s launch proposal was not intended for implementation through Source Music’s ‘N Team’ (which manages LE SSERAFIM) but was meant for a new group under Min’s own label. The company accused Min of distorting facts and reiterated that she continues to disseminate false information about them. Source Music has indicated its readiness to take strong legal action if necessary, even expressing willingness to publicly release evidence supporting its position.

This case has garnered considerable attention as it is the first legal trial following the verdict in the NJZ versus ADOR contract dispute. In that earlier ruling, the court sided with ADOR while dismissing most of Min Hee Jin and NJZ’s critical claims, including those against Source Music, LE SSERAFIM, and allegations of unfair treatment by HYBE.

The court accepted submissions from HYBE, including the so-called “Min Hee Jin KakaoTalk logs,” which contained her internal complaints and conversations related to HYBE and Source Music. The court deemed these logs largely valid as evidence. It concluded that the majority of NJZ and Min Hee Jin’s allegations, such as claims of defamation by HYBE’s PR team and various accusations concerning ILLIT, lacked credible evidence. The court determined that the public narrative against HYBE had been initiated by Min herself in April 2024.

As the fourth hearing approaches, the outcome of the ongoing legal battle between Min Hee Jin and Source Music will likely have significant implications for both parties, as well as for the wider K-pop industry.