HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk calls ADOR's Min Hee-jin 'malicious individual' in court battle

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk, left, and ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin [YONHAP]

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk slammed ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin as a “malicious individual” during a court hearing on Friday, marking his first public statement on the agency’s conflict with ADOR.

The comment came as part of a petition that will be handed over to the court soon in which Bang requested that the court side with HYBE on an injunction that Min had previously filed. That injunction seeks to prevent HYBE, which holds an 80 percent stake in its subsidiary ADOR, from exercising its voting rights at the ADOR’s shareholders’ meeting scheduled for May 31.

The meeting's main agenda item is to remove Min from her executive position.

“I understand that some view Min Hee-jin’s actions as highlighting the problems of a multilabel system,” Bang wrote. “However, no matter how sophisticated the system is or how thorough the contracts are, nothing can completely deter human malice.

“The actions of one malicious individual should not be allowed to damage the system that may have been built over a long time. I believe that this is the strength of our social system, which prevents personal malice and wrongdoing from destroying social institutions and order.”

Bang further stated his dedication to rectifying his position as an industry leader, asserting his determination to set appropriate rules and precedents for the entirety of the K-pop industry.

“I deeply regret that this incident has caused concern to the public, especially when we, as an entertainment company, should be delivering joy,” Bang concluded. “I sincerely hope that this genuine sentiment reaches you and that the court will make a wise decision to dismiss the injunction.”

The Seoul Central District Court had not reached a decision as of today. The court briefly commented that it would ask HYBE and ADOR to file additional evidence by next Friday and would reach a ruling before May 31.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]