NewJeans Debut Promise: Min Hee Jin’s Side Reaffirms Claims in Court
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin’s legal team has once again asserted that Source Music had promised the NewJeans members they would debut as HYBE’s highly anticipated first girl group. This key point was reiterated during the latest hearing in Source Music’s ongoing damages lawsuit against Min Hee Jin.
High-Stakes Lawsuit Details
The Seoul Western District Court convened on August 21 KST for another session in the high-stakes legal battle. Source Music is seeking approximately 500 million KRW (around 360,000 USD) in damages, alleging defamation, obstruction of business, and insulting remarks. The lawsuit was initially filed in July 2024, with a verdict originally anticipated in January, but arguments were reopened at Source Music’s request.
At the heart of this complex dispute are several past statements made by Min Hee Jin regarding the formation and debut process of NewJeans. Source Music has consistently disputed claims that Min personally cast the NewJeans members, that the company broke its promise to debut them as HYBE’s first girl group, and that the members experienced neglect while under Source Music’s purview. Source Music argues these statements are false and have significantly damaged its reputation.
Min Hee Jin’s Defense: Parents and Documents Confirm Promise
During the recent August 21 hearing, Min’s legal representatives strongly emphasized the alleged broken promise concerning HYBE’s first girl group. They presented that the NewJeans members’ parents themselves acknowledged the existence of such a commitment. Furthermore, Min’s team contended that internal documents clearly support the notion that specific debut promises had been made to the trainees. They also maintained that Source Music has yet to present conclusive evidence proving the falsity of Min’s statements.
Source Music’s Counter-Argument: Evidence Ignored?
In response, Source Music firmly pushed back, stating that it has already submitted multiple pieces of objective internal evidence to counter Min’s claims. The company asserted that Min’s side has consistently avoided directly responding to this evidence. Source Music concluded by indicating its intent to submit additional arguments in writing, signaling a continued effort to present its case.
Verdict Date Awaited
With oral arguments now concluded on August 21, the court is expected to announce a date for the final verdict at a later time, bringing this highly publicized legal conflict closer to a resolution.
