Min Hee-jin: "Is It Betrayal to Achieve in Two Years What Others Take Seven Years to Do?"

연합뉴스 / 2024-05-31 16:04:35

▲ ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin attends a press conference in Seoul on May 31, 2024. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Min Hee-jin, CEO of ADOR, extended an olive branch to HYBE on the 31st, stating, "Is it betrayal to achieve in two years what a boy group would take seven years to do?" She expressed her desire for a compromise with HYBE.

In a press conference held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Min said, "I achieved in two years what other boy bands might achieve in five or seven years. Can you call the president of a subsidiary who achieved such results a betrayer?"

On the previous day, the court accepted Min's application for an injunction to prohibit HYBE from exercising its voting rights, freeing her from the threat of dismissal. The court ruled that while Min's efforts to independently control ADOR might be seen as a "betrayal," they did not constitute "breach of trust" against ADOR.

Following this decision, Min was retained at the interim shareholders' meeting held that day. However, HYBE, which holds an 80% stake in ADOR, dismissed Shin Mo, Vice President, and Kim Mo, Director, who were aligned with Min, appointing its internal executives Kim Ju-young (CHRO), Lee Jae-sang (CSO), and Lee Kyung-joon (CFO) as new directors.

This was Min's second press conference following the dispute between HYBE and ADOR, the first being 36 days ago on April 25. Min expressed frustration, saying, "I don't know who this dispute is for or what it aims to achieve. I'm tired of the blame and criticism. Everyone is fed up."

▲ Hybe CEO Park Ji-won (L) and Min Hee-jin

She urged a more constructive discussion, considering what would be more beneficial for everyone. "Given the court's ruling that there was no breach of trust against ADOR, these issues need to be discussed more constructively. The situation needs to change for everyone's sake," she added. She emphasized that this approach is both a managerial mindset and the right thing to do on a human level.

Appearing more relaxed and smiling this time, Min wore a yellow jacket with her hair tied back, contrasting her previous appearance marked by fatigue. Reflecting on the past month, she said, "It was a difficult experience I hope never to face again. However, personally, I feel relieved as I've been cleared of false accusations. I feel like a significant burden has been lifted."

She acknowledged that there are still many challenges ahead but expressed confidence in her managerial skills, saying, "I have a knack for management."