“Mother of NewJeans” Min Hee-jin Accused of Covering Up Sexual Harassment at HYBE

It has been alleged that she showed partiality towards a male executive who was under investigation for workplace sexual harassment and tried to conceal the incident. Throughout this ordeal, she supposedly used aggressive language to discredit the female victim.

According to an article by Dispatch on July 25th, Min Hee-jin was made aware of a sexual harassment incident at HYBE in March of this year. The incident was reported by a female employee, B, against the married executive A of ADOR.

During her mobile messenger conversation with A, Min Hee-jin made defamatory remarks about B in language that is inappropriate to repeat. She also encouraged A to take legal action against B. Min Hee-jin showed complete support for A’s version of events and even helped revise A’s statement to HYBE.

In the end, A stepped down from their position, while B was given a warning.

According to Dispatch, Min Hee-jin allegedly made negative comments about female employees in various mobile messenger conversations. She used offensive language such as “feminist bitch,””brat,”and “crazy lady,”and portrayed female employees as lacking in work ethic and responsibility, claiming they preferred to engage in casual conversations at coffee shops.

Despite being the one who nurtured them, she didn’t hold back from criticizing the idols, even making negative comments about the appearance of members from the group NewJeans. This was evident in messages that were uncovered right before the “ADOR incident”.

The revelation of her flawed understanding of gender in these discussions has led to a loss of support from certain female communities who previously stood by Min Hee-jin. There are now doubts surrounding her ability to effectively produce and oversee a girl group.

However, on July 24th, Min Hee-jin announced that she had pressed charges against HYBE CEO Park Ji-won and other individuals for interfering with business operations, unauthorized access to electronic records, violating the Information and Communications Network Act (data interference), and defamation.

According to Min Hee-jin’s representatives, these individuals have allegedly “illegally obtained and manipulated personal messenger conversations and private information in order to suit their own agendas, and have continuously leaked them.”

Despite HYBE’s statement that “Min Hee-jin’s old laptop was not forensically examined”and that she had sent work-related materials to her HYBE work email, including conversations with a shaman, which remained on their server, Min Hee-jin continues to make false accusations. HYBE has repeatedly explained how they obtained the information and will now counter her false reports with charges of false reporting.

HYBE had previously filed a complaint against Min Hee-jin for failing to fulfill her duties, and another subsidiary, Source Music, which oversees the group LE SSERAFIM, filed a lawsuit seeking 500 million won in damages.