Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, won a damages lawsuit against internet trolls. According to the Herald Economy on the 19th, Judge Ahn Hyun-jin of the Seoul Central District Court partially sided with Min in her lawsuit against eight individuals who posted malicious comments about her. The court ordered each troll to pay Min between 50,000 and 100,000 won.
The decision was finalized as neither side appealed. It is anticipated that Min will also win lawsuits against other internet trolls.
Previously, in April of last year, HYBE accused Min of attempting to take over ADOR and gain management control. Following two press conferences held by Min, trolls left defamatory comments on related articles after the second conference.
Min filed a damages lawsuit against the trolls, claiming mental distress caused by insults and defamation, and demanded 3 million won per person. The court partially sided with her claim but limited the damages to 50,000 to 100,000 won per person.
The comment that resulted in the highest damages of 100,000 won was an offensive insult with just three characters. Comments that resulted in 50,000 won in damages included statements of physical threat and derogatory remarks. However, comments such as “sly person” did not result in damage liability as the court deemed them not overly malicious and merely harsh expressions of personal opinion.
In August last year, Min was removed from her position as CEO of ADOR. Subsequently, ADOR’s artists, NewJeans, were informed of the termination of their exclusive contract on November 29. ADOR filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract, arguing that an exclusive contract cannot be terminated unilaterally.
Despite this, NewJeans continued their independent activities, fulfilling existing schedules. ADOR sought an injunction to prevent them from independently engaging in advertising contracts and activities until the court’s ruling on the contract’s validity.
Meanwhile, NewJeans announced a new group name, NJZ, and they are set to perform and release new music as headliners at the ComplexCon event in Hong Kong on the 23rd. The first hearing for the lawsuit regarding the contract’s validity is on April 3.