Min Hee-jin's 500 million won lawsuit is far from over… Source Music files another motion to reopen proceedings [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The damages lawsuit filed by Source Music against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin is once again set to face a reopening of oral arguments. The litigation, which appears to be nearing its end but continues to drag on, remains unresolved.

The 500 million won damages claim lawsuit filed by Source Music against Min Hee-jin Jeon (CEO), being heard by the 12th Civil Division (B) of the Seoul Western District Court, concluded all oral arguments on August 21 last month. The court did not set a date for the verdict and instead designated an estimated date to await the outcome of related cases. However, as Source Music filed an immediate appeal followed by a motion to reopen proceedings, it is expected that the judicial panel will face further deliberation.

The two parties are still at odds over whether to reopen the proceedings this time, with both sides submitting written statements to the court outlining their positions.

In fact, this is not the first time a motion to reopen proceedings has been filed. The court had originally scheduled the date for the verdict in January last year, but after Source Music submitted a motion to reopen and subsequently applied for witnesses, the oral arguments were resumed. Following this reopening, the proceedings continued until June last month after three changes to the hearing dates.

The reopening of oral arguments is a procedure that takes place when the court determines that additional claims or evidence investigation are necessary just before the verdict.

Source Music filed this lawsuit against Min Hee-jin Jeon (CEO) through the Seoul Western District Court in July 2024.

Source Music has shown movements to seek compensation for damages related to Min Hui-jin (CEO)'s claims regarding NewJeans' debut through legal action. Min Hui-jin (CEO) previously raised issues at a press conference, stating that Source Music had neglected some of the NewJeans members who were under its label and questioning the fact that LE SSERAFIM debuted before NewJeans. In response, Source Music countered, "The claim by Min Hui-jin (CEO) that Source Music copied her launch strategy is false. Source Music has never copied the launch strategy of Min Hee-jin, then CBO, nor have we acknowledged the content of CBO Min's complaints," and proceeded with legal action.

In response to this, Source Music refuted Min Hee-jin's false claims point by point at the time, emphasizing, "The claim by Min Hui-jin (CEO) that Source Music copied her launch strategy is false. Source Music has never copied the launch strategy of Min Hee-jin, then CBO, nor have we acknowledged the content of CBO Min's complaints." It further stated, "Chairman Bang Si-hyeok's opinion presented in May 2020 regarding the launch strategy proposed by Min Hee-jin, then CBO, was not for Team N, but rather to realize the proposal through a 'new team' at the label that CBO Min would establish," adding, "Min (CEO) is distorting the facts by presenting it as if Chairman Bang expressed an opinion to realize her launch strategy through Team N, despite being well aware of the discussions at the time."

Source Music emphasized, "Min Hui-jin (CEO) is continuously disseminating false information regarding Source Music. In addition to the damages lawsuit filed against Min (CEO), we plan to take strong legal action in this case as well, and we are willing to disclose any materials held by our company at any time to clarify the truth."

During the trial, Source Music's side argued, "The issue is not individual expressions but the overall context of the press conference remarks," claiming that it was unlawful to cause unrelated third parties, including affiliated artists, to be perceived negatively on the grounds of a private conflict between shareholders. In particular, they have repeatedly emphasized that the social evaluation of their affiliated singers, including LE SSERAFIM, was damaged.

In response, Min Hee-jin Jeon (CEO)'s side countered that the press conference in question was an "unavoidable response to counter HYBE's audit and one-sided media handling." They maintain it is unfair to judge only selected remarks as defamation, and argue that the term 'scoundrel' was not an insult aimed at a specific individual, but rather an expression pointing out problems in the establishment process.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original