Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador, drinks water during a press conference at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, May 31. Newsis

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has denied allegations of acting as the "orchestrator" in the termination of K-pop girl group NewJeans' exclusive contract with the HYBE sublabel.

Min's representatives issued a statement Monday, saying she has filed complaints with police against two former and incumbent HYBE executives and two reporters for defamation.

The complaints accuse former HYBE CEO Park Ji-won and HYBE Chief Communications Officer (CCO) Park Tae-hee of violating the related communications laws. Additionally, two reporters from Dispatch, an online entertainment media outlet, identified only as Kim and Park, have also been accused of defamation.

Min alleges that the two HYBE executives "actively utilized illegally obtained private conversations, adding false claims to create negative public opinion about Min."

The reporters are accused of "publishing false articles with the intent to defame Min, fully aware of the malicious intentions behind these actions."

The controversy follows a Dispatch article, which alleged that Min acted as a "hidden hand" in several high-profile incidents involving NewJeans.

These include the group's September online live broadcast requesting Min's return as Ador CEO, member Hanni's parliamentary appearance last month, and a press conference on Thursday concerning the group's exclusive contract termination.

Dispatch also raised suspicions about Min discussing the possibility of "tampering" — premature contract negotiations — with a company's actual owner while planning for NewJeans' departure from HYBE.

Min's representatives labeled the Dispatch report as "completely untrue" but did not specify which details were inaccurate. They said the reporters "based their articles on one-sided claims and personal speculation without verifying facts."

NewJeans in dispute with Ador over contract termination / Courtesy of Ador

Dispatch's report suggests that Min met with investors in September, while still affiliated with Ador, to discuss "whether it would be possible to bring NewJeans out."

The report alleges Min's involvement in various NewJeans activities, including the live broadcast and Hanni's public appearance, framing her as the orchestrator behind the group's criticism of the company and decision to leave.

The five-member girl group NewJeans held a late-night press conference on Thursday to unilaterally announce the termination of their exclusive contract with Ador.

This article, based on a piece from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.