2024-09-27 Billboard Article: Employee B

Source: HYBE Re-Opens Investigation of NewJeans Producer Min Hee-jin 

HYBE Re-Opens Investigation of NewJeans Producer Min Hee-jin Over Alleged Sexual Harassment Coverup

The Former ADOR CEO is calling for an independent third-party to examine the claims.

By Jeff Benjamin

HYBE has reopened an investigation against Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of its subsidiary label ADOR, with whom the K-pop conglomerate has been in a monthslong legal battle regarding her position at the company.

On Sept. 24, HYBE confirmed to Billboard that ADOR launched an investigation into whether Min improperly interfered in the company’s initial investigation into a sexual harassment claim and violated confidentiality obligations. ADOR also began a re-investigation of an ADOR VP involved in the situation. HYBE declined to comment on how long the investigations have been underway or when they plan to share their findings. Min and a representative tell Billboard she was never formally informed of the investigation through external or internal company means.

Min is pushing back on HYBE’s handling of the case, which was initiated by its sub-label ADOR, which houses NewJeans, calling the company’s internal investigations biased due to an alleged conflict of interest with the executive who replaced her as label CEO overseeing the case.

Sources tell Billboard that the investigation involves allegations that Min had covered up an incident involving a male VP at ADOR, where a female employee reported feeling harassed and bullied during a work-related dinner.

The controversy dates back to February 2024, when the ADOR VP allegedly pressured a female employee to attend a dinner with a client, claiming it would be beneficial to have a young woman present, according to an internal report shared with Billboard. During the dinner, the VP left abruptly, leaving the employee alone with a client, creating an uncomfortable situation that the report says “seemed orchestrated.” The employee reported the incident to HYBE’s internal compliance system, citing sexual harassment and workplace bullying. While an internal HR investigation was conducted, it ultimately recommended only a stern warning for the VP, as harassment claims could not be definitively proven, with the case dismissed.

Min Hee-jin’s role in the aftermath of this complaint is what has come under scrutiny. According to the report, Min doubted the credibility of the employee’s complaint and organized an all-hands meeting with both the complainant and the accused, violating the company’s standard HR procedures. An audit of the situation added that Min had coached the VP on how to respond to the allegations.

When the Korean tabloid site Dispatch first reported the incident, Min responded to the claims with a media statement and shared information about the employee on her social media, including the employee’s salary. HYBE has said that the employee filed lawsuits for defamation and privacy violations, but a representative for Min tells Billboard she, as well as the VP, are only facing a defamation suit, and nothing related to sexual harassment in court. The rep adds that the VP has also sued the employee for defamation and claimed damages, which had not been previously shared with the media.

At the time, Min stated that the issues stemmed from poor work performance and that the employee left the company after a salary cut. Min tells Billboard the salary information she revealed through an Instagram Story post did not identify the individual and says it was HYBE, not herself, who publicly disclosed the private parties’ identities in media statements throughout their dispute.

In a phone interview last week, Min questioned the legitimacy of HYBE’s ongoing investigations and directly addressed the appointment of Ju Young Kim, ADOR’s new CEO, who replaced her and led the initial investigation that dismissed the harassment claim. During her time as ADOR’s CEO, Min claims she was not in a position to “conceal” sexual harassment cases nor in charge of such decisions.

“The one who actually made a final decision after reviewing all the statements, all the evidence and reporting, is Kim Ju Young, who is currently the CEO of ADOR,” Min says. “She made those final decisions by herself within HR of HYBE, but then later on, she brought up this issue again and accused me with different charges to try to re-open an investigation.”

Min adds, “I have been telling HYBE, ‘If you want to do an investigation or re-investigation, you need to make it formal and official by not having any investigating done by those involved in previous cases. They could hire a third party to investigate, but instead, they’re going into another internal investigation by the same person who actually made the final decision.”

The final results of the audit are expected in the coming days.

HYBE declined to comment on whether the company has spoken with or plans to speak with NewJeans directly, but Billboard learned that the NewJeans members and their parents met ADOR’s current CEO Ju Young Kim on Sept. 24 to solidify each side’s position.

Despite the ongoing investigation, ADOR shared its decision on Sept. 25 to allow Min back to the subsidiary as an internal director and producer for NewJeans, but would not honor the request to reinstate her as its CEO. 

“The board has resolved to convene an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to reappoint Min Hee-jin as an internal director,” ADOR said in an official statement (per The Korea Herald). “However, the board cannot accept the request for her reinstatement as CEO at this time. Min Hee-jin’s role and authority as the producer for NewJeans are fully guaranteed, and further discussions on specific terms will take place in the future.” A representative for Min told Billboard no such role was ever offered to her.

Min Hee-jin issued a press statement in Korea rejecting the proposal and requesting again to be reinstated as CEO.