On February 25, Min Hee Jin, CEO of OOAK Records and former head of ADOR, held her fourth press conference at a location in Jongno, Seoul, addressing the outcome of her first-instance lawsuit against HYBE and outlining her future plans. Since April 2024, when she first publicly denied allegations of attempting to seize management control of ADOR, her press conferences have consistently drawn nationwide attention.
Of the four conferences, Min personally attended three. At the third press event held on January 28, only her legal representative, Attorney Kim Sun Woong from Law Firm Jiam, appeared on her behalf.
At the latest conference, Min appeared in a black blazer layered over a white T-shirt prominently featuring the logo of luxury brand C. The mix-and-match styling formal outerwear combined with a casual branded tee immediately caught the public’s eye.
The outfit became even more controversial due to its perceived connection to BTS member V. During the recent first-instance trial, messenger conversations exchanged between Min Hee Jin and V were submitted as court evidence, drawing widespread media coverage.
According to reports, V allegedly sent Min a message along the lines of, “There’s always talk about plagiarism, and it never stops. I looked at it too and thought, ‘This does look similar.’” After the content became public, V addressed the issue via his personal social media account, stating, “It was part of a private, everyday conversation shared because we were acquaintances. I have no intention of taking sides. However, I am very taken aback that the conversation was submitted as evidence without my consent.”
Coincidentally, the C-brand T-shirt Min wore at the press conference is from the same brand for which V has served as a global ambassador for several years. Although the design was not identical to pieces publicly worn by V, the timing following the disclosure of their private messages in court has fueled online speculation. Comments such as “Was this a calculated move?” and “That’s quite a coincidence” have circulated across online communities.
Meanwhile, at the same press conference, Min Hee Jin stated that although she won the first trial regarding the shareholder agreement termination and put option (stock sale claim) lawsuit against HYBE, she is willing to forgo the ₩25.6 billion put option payment. In exchange, she urged HYBE to withdraw all ongoing legal actions. She emphasized that her primary reason for making this decision was the well-being of NewJeans.
HYBE responded briefly to the fourth press conference, stating that it has “no official position” at this time.
Sources: Naver