The dispute between HYBE, ADOR, and Min Hee-jin has become one of the most complex and high-profile legal battles to shake the K-pop industry in recent years. Beyond the management of ADOR and the future of NewJeans, the case has also involved disputes over shareholder agreements, share ownership, plagiarism allegations, and a series of compensation claims worth tens of billions of кσяєαn won.

Notably, the legal battle has not produced a single outcome in favor of one side across all proceedings. HYBE and Min Hee-jin have achieved different results in individual cases, while several disputes remain unresolved. Among them is a recently filed civil lawsuit involving HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and Min Hee-jin, which has drawn considerable public attention.

According to a BizHankook report dated October 16, Bang Si-hyuk has officially filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin, seeking repayment of a loan totaling KRW 4,210,600,000 (approximately $3.14 million). The lawsuit stems from a loan Bang provided to Min in 2023, when she purchased shares in ADOR.

Specifically, in April, Bang filed a petition requesting that the court issue a payment order for the principal loan of KRW 3.7 billion (approximately $2.76 million). In May, the Seoul Western District Court granted the request, ordering Min to pay a total of KRW 4,210,600,000. A payment order is a legal procedure that allows a court to order a debtor to make a payment at a creditor’s request without initially requiring the debtor to be questioned.

However, Min Hee-jin filed an objection in July. Under South кσяєαn legal procedures, when a debtor files a valid objection, the payment order becomes ineffective to the extent of the objection, and the case proceeds as a formal civil lawsuit. The case was subsequently filed with the Seoul Western District Court on the 28th of that month before being transferred to the Seoul Central District Court in accordance with the loan agreement between the two parties.

The loan originated in March 2023, when Min purchased 573,160 ADOR shares, representing a 17.8% stake in the company, from HYBE for approximately KRW 3.738 billion (around $2.79 million). To complete the transaction, she borrowed KRW 3.7 billion from Bang. The loan was also confirmed during proceedings concerning Min’s put-option rights and her shareholder agreement with HYBE.

One notable detail is that the amount Bang is seeking exceeds the original loan principal by KRW 510.6 million (approximately $380,000). According to calculations cited in reports, this difference corresponds to simple interest at an annual rate of 4.6% over three years. However, the actual interest rate stipulated in the loan agreement and the precise мєтнod used to calculate the additional amount have not been fully confirmed. It therefore cannot be automatically αѕѕumed that 4.6% was the interest rate agreed upon by both parties.

The timing of this new lawsuit has drawn even greater public attention because it comes after Min Hee-jin secured a first-instance victory against HYBE in their dispute over her put-option rights.

In February, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that HYBE must pay Min approximately KRW 25.595 billion (around $19.07 million). The court also rejected the company’s request for a declaration that the shareholder agreement had been terminated. HYBE subsequently appealed, meaning the ruling is not yet final and the broader dispute remains unresolved.

Following her first-instance victory, Min proposed ending the disputes by relinquishing her entitlement to approximately KRW 25.6 billion (around $19.07 million) in exchange for the termination of civil and criminal lawsuits and complaints involving HYBE, NewJeans, external business partners, and former ADOR employees. HYBE rejected the proposal and continued pursuing its appeals.

With the latest development, the legal battle between the two figures has entered another chapter. On social media, fans have been actively discussing the latest turn of events: "Campaign: MHJ pay off the BangPd loan! If you are better than him why did you needed his money and has not paid until today??!?!?!", "She be diggin her own grave since she met BSH", "MHJ you witch, pay back Bang PD his money!", "Was waiting for this. Good!!", "Come on, you borrow money, you have to pay it back. How can you take the money and then turn around and sue the other person?",...