Min Hee-jin wins defamation suit against four over 'trash,' 'thug' comments
Published: 20 Apr. 2026, 18:04
![Min Hee-jin opens a water bottle during a press conference held in central Seoul in February. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/20/62630d42-df03-45ef-8a4e-525524d8471d.jpg)
Min Hee-jin opens a water bottle during a press conference held in central Seoul in February. [NEWS1]
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has partially won a civil suit against online slanderers, according to legal circles on Monday.
Of 11 defendants, four were ordered to pay 300,000 won ($203) to Min according to a ruling made by the Seoul Western District Court in February. Another case against seven others was dismissed.
In between April and May of last year, Min filed the suits and sought roughly 3 million won to 4 million won in compensation per defendant.
The defendants wrote derogatory comments on news stories that covered Min’s feud with HYBE regarding NewJean’s management from April to August of 2024. Comments occasionally referred to Min as “a piece of trash” or “a thug.”
Among the comments deemed defamatory enough to warrant damages was one that read, “I knew she had a filthy mouth, but I didn’t realize her personality was that trashy.”
“While the case involving Min Hee-jin can be partially seen as one of public interest, that does not excuse insults despite freedom of expression,” the court said. “Some of the comments seemingly intended to demean, mock or display contempt toward Min Hee-jin instead of expressing opinions.”
“[Defendants] bear responsibility for compensation as their comments harmed Min’s reputation,” the court added.
![Min Hee-jin cries while speaking at a press conference held in central Seoul in May 2024. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/20/d6675252-ed60-47d1-b98b-e2b20e2b257f.jpg)
Min Hee-jin cries while speaking at a press conference held in central Seoul in May 2024. [YONHAP]
However, the court said other comments — including “She seems to be deranged” and “As expected, she’s a cruel [expletive]” — did not fall afoul of the law as long as they are “not excessively malicious.”
“[Those comments] are compressed expressions of opinion about the plaintiff’s conduct and attitude,” the court said.
Despite language deemed to be rude or vulgar, the court viewed the comments as personal, emotional assessments about the management dispute.
Additional civil suits filed by Min are believed to be ongoing.
On online forums, a few users shared experiences of getting sued by Min with comments that said, “I am not significantly worried as damages seem to be around 100,000 won unless the comments are extremely harsh.” Some others expressed concern over the possibility that accusations of libel could be reported to their employers.
![Min Hee-jin attends a hearing session at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul in September 2025. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/20/999fa9fb-23e0-449d-bb1d-5a905f46388a.jpg)
Min Hee-jin attends a hearing session at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul in September 2025. [NEWS1]
Min also partially prevailed in another lawsuit against six online commenters in early November of last year.
Separately, a hearing in a damages suit filed by Min against Belift Lab and Source Music, music labels under HYBE, is scheduled for May 15.
The two HYBE subsidiaries filed suits against Min on charges of defamation in June and July 2024, seeking 2 billion won and 500 million won, respectively.
Min left HYBE’s ADOR sub-label in November 2024. She established a new K-pop agency — ooak records — in October last year.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM JEONG-JAE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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