Korean Entertainment Agency Association (연제협), Min Hee Jin, Put Option Lawsuit, Ruling, Condemnation, NewJeans, Poaching Allegations

The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (KEPA) has released a statement expressing its regret following the court’s decision in favor of Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, regarding the shareholder agreement dispute with HYBE.

On June 13th, KEPA stated, “We express deep regret over the court’s ruling on June 12th. We view this matter not merely as a legal dispute between specific parties but as an issue that confirms the minimum order and principles that the Korean entertainment production scene has upheld for decades.”

The statement continued, “We are concerned that this ruling will create distrust rather than quell the anxiety in the field. What is more important than whether the betrayal was executed is the direction itself that betrayed trust. The production site collapses the moment that trust breaks down. This ruling sends a dangerous message that even if tampering was attempted but not carried out, or if it was discovered before execution, it can be excused.”

KEPA further emphasized, “We note that this ruling seriously undermines the ‘stability of investment contracts’. In the production field, investment is more than just raising funds; it is a declaration of long-term trust in the system and human resources. The logic that contractual relationships should be maintained even when trust has clearly broken down forces investors to make conservative judgments, which will inevitably lead to a contraction of investment across the entertainment industry.”

KEPA stated, “This ruling cannot be seen as a decision for producers. Attempted tampering alone destroys the field. Tempering is not just a contractual dispute but an act of plundering shared outcomes and a destructive act that uproots the industry’s trust.”

In closing, KEPA urged, “We strongly urge the judiciary to deeply understand the industry’s specificity and the reality of the production field in future proceedings such as the appeal trial. In a continuing relationship based on trust, a clear legal boundary must be presented to rectify the situation when that trust collapses.”

The following is the full text of the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association statement.

The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (KEPA) expresses deep regret regarding the first instance ruling on February 12, 2026, concerning the validity and termination of the shareholder agreement between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee-jin.

KEPA views this matter not merely as a legal dispute between specific parties but as an issue that confirms the minimum order and principles that the Korean entertainment production scene has upheld for decades.

KEPA has repeatedly warned that “if contracts and trust collapse, the foundations of the industry will be shaken” whenever controversies over exclusive contract terminations and suspicions of tampering have surfaced.

This association is concerned that this ruling will create distrust rather than quell the anxiety in the field. What is more important than the ‘execution’ of betrayal is the ‘direction’ itself that betrayed trust.

Production is a product of process, not result. It takes years of time, astronomical capital, and the dedicated labor of numerous staff members to put a single artist team in front of the public. The strongest safety device in this complex process is the ‘trust’ between partners. The production site collapses the moment that trust breaks down. The team is divided, the production team is exhausted, and the artists and fandom are caught in a whirlpool of conflict.

This ruling sends a dangerous message that even if tampering was attempted but not carried out, or if it was discovered before execution, it can be excused.

In particular, KEPA notes that this ruling seriously undermines the ‘stability of investment contracts’. In the production field, investment is more than just raising funds; it is a declaration of long-term trust in the system and human resources. The logic that contractual relationships should be maintained even when trust has clearly broken down forces investors to make conservative judgments, which will inevitably lead to a contraction of investment across the entertainment industry.

Creative talent and new projects are the first to be hit when investment dries up. Small and medium-sized production companies will suffer, jobs in the field will decrease, and the diversity and competitiveness that K-pop has built in the global market will inevitably decline. In that sense, this ruling cannot be seen as a decision for producers.

Attempted tampering alone destroys the field. Tempering is not just a contractual dispute but an act of plundering shared outcomes and a destructive act that uproots the industry’s trust.

KEPA strongly urges the judiciary to deeply understand the industry’s specificity and the reality of the production field in future proceedings such as the appeal trial.

In a continuing relationship based on trust, a clear legal boundary must be presented to rectify the situation when that trust collapses.

Only then can producers trust people and invest capital again, and nurture the next generation of artists.

KEPA will continue to strive to establish a sound contractual order and protect the production system so that the K-pop ecosystem can continue as a robust ‘system’ without being shaken by the deviations of specific individuals.