Min Hee-jin files injunction to fight ADOR board ousting

Min Hee-jin has filed for an injunction seeking a shareholder meeting to reinstate her to the board of ADOR.

Min Hee-jin, CEO of girl group NewJeans' agency ADOR, answers questions from reporters after finishing the first session of questioning at the Yongsan Police Station, central Seoul, at around 10 p.m. on July 9. [NEWS1]

Min Hee-jin has asked the court to order ADOR to convene a shareholder meeting and renew her contract as a member of the company board in a move to fight for her place as the CEO of the NewJeans agency.

Min filed for an injunction with the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, requesting ADOR to convene a shareholder meeting to vote for her to continue sitting on the board after her three-year term ends on Nov. 2.

According to Min's legal representation from Shin & Kim law firm, her shareholders' contract with HYBE dictates that Min will be guaranteed a spot as both member of the board and CEO of ADOR for five years until 2026, even though HYBE has been arguing that the contract is now invalid because she broke the deal by going behind HYBE's back.

Min rebutted the parent label's claim, citing a local court decision made in May that she was not guilty of breach of trust against HYBE, and argued that the shareholders' contract, therefore, still stands.

Rather than call for an injunction against the board's decision to oust her as CEO, Min will first fight for her spot as a board member then take additional steps to get the CEO job back, according to the law firm.

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR at left, and girl group NewJeans holding a YouTube livestream [YONHAP, SCREEN CAPTURE]

"HYBE has been arguing that the shareholders' contract has been nullified without any valid reason, two months before Min Hee-jin's term as a board member ends," the law firm said in a press release. "It is clear that HYBE will not renew her term as a board member [of ADOR], which has led us to request an injunction for ADOR to convene a shareholder meeting and vote to renew her term."

The news comes two weeks after ADOR's board voted to remove Min as the CEO and appointed HYBE's chief HR officer, Kim Ju-young, as the new CEO.

Members of girl group NewJeans held a livestream on Wednesday evening demanding that HYBE reinstate Min as the CEO by Sept. 25.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]