[Official] Min Hee-jin's side: "Belift Lab and Source Music filed for a resumption of oral arguments... Do not delay the trial"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As Belift Lab and Source Music have applied to resume oral arguments in the damages lawsuit they filed against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, Min's side stated, "Do not delay the trial."

On the 14th, OK Records stated regarding the Min Hui-jin (CEO) lawsuit involving Belift Lab and Source Music, "The essence of the case lies in the stark disparity in scale between the parties to the litigation and the overlapping burdens borne by the defendant. Unlike a major label that can deploy massive legal resources, an individual is forced to expend time, money, and mental energy in a prolonged battle. In particular, Min Jeon (CEO) has been exercising her right to defense in isolation amid the compounded suffering of excessive, insulting slurs spreading across major online communities, indiscriminate cyberbullying, and all-encompassing litigation by a giant corporation."

It further pointed out, "Belift Lab, as the operator of the NewJeans fandom coalition 'Team Bernz,' filed a civil lawsuit worth 100 million won and a separate criminal complaint against A, who was a minor at the time, and their parents, citing defamation among other grounds. More seriously, the plaintiffs are dragging the circumstances of a criminal investigation and referral involving one fan into the main trial of Min Hee-jin's Jeon (CEO) case to use as leverage for resuming oral arguments."

OK Records argued, "The similarity issue regarding ILLIT was first publicized through the general public and media, and there is a background to the holding of a press conference in the course of HYBE's response. The partial referral opinion by the police cited by the plaintiffs as grounds for resuming oral arguments is merely a provisional opinion of law enforcement authorities, not an indictment by prosecutors or recognition by the court, and overlaps with issues already rejected in related civil trials." It added, "In particular, when compared to the fact that the same police station previously made a non-referral decision in a case reported by HYBE, judging the defendant's issue as 'a management duty based on creative ethics,' this partial referral opinion contradicts past judgments by law enforcement authorities and the content of related civil rulings, raising questions about its objective validity."

It also stated, "Although individual cases should be judged independently, the act of dragging in separate matters to delay a judgment runs counter to the essence of judicial procedure. In the legal community, it is considered highly unusual for the plaintiff side claiming damages to repeatedly delay the trial on their own, effectively admitting that it was an unreasonable lawsuit where proving substantial damage was difficult from the start." It added, "The act of repeatedly demanding procedural restarts right before sentencing, despite having been given ample opportunity for oral arguments over several years, paradoxically reveals a cross-section showing that the plaintiff side has hit a limit in legally proving the causal relationship between the alleged defamation or damages they claim."

Previously, the 500th million won damages lawsuit filed by Source Music against Min Hee-jin's Jeon (CEO), being heard by the 12th Civil Division (B) of the Seoul Western District Court, completed all oral arguments on August 21 and set a presumed date rather than a sentencing date to await the results of related cases. However, as Source Music's side applied for a resumption of oral arguments following an immediate appeal, it is expected that the court will face further deliberation.

Both sides are still at odds over whether to resume oral arguments this time, having submitted their positions in writing to the court.

Moreover, this application to resume oral arguments is not the first time. The court had originally scheduled a sentencing date for last January, but after Source Music's side submitted an application to resume oral arguments and then applied for witnesses, the oral arguments were resumed again. Consequently, the oral arguments were resumed, and after three changes in schedule, they continued in June.

Resumption of oral arguments is a procedure that takes place when the court determines that additional claims or evidence investigation are needed right before sentencing.

Source Music filed this lawsuit against Min Hee-jin's 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 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 their launching strategy is false. Source Music has never copied the launching strategy of Min Hee-jin, then CBO, nor have we acknowledged the content of CBO Min's complaints," and took legal action.

In response to this, Source Music refuted Min Hee-jin's false claims point by point at the time and emphasized, "The claim by Min Hui-jin (CEO) that Source Music copied their launching strategy is false. Source Music has never copied the launching 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 launching strategy proposed by Min Hee-jin, then CBO, was not for Team N, but to realize the proposal through a 'new team' at the label that CBO Min would establish." It added, "Min (CEO) well knows the discussions at the time yet distorts the facts as if Chairman Bang presented an opinion to realize their launching strategy through Team N."

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 materials held by our company at any time if necessary for a clear determination of the truth."

During the trial, Source Music's side argued, "The issue is not individual expressions but the overall context of the press conference statements," and claimed that "it is unlawful to create a situation where unrelated third parties, including affiliated artists, are perceived negatively on the grounds of 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's Jeon (CEO) 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 some statements as defamation, and that the term 'scoundrel' was not an insult aimed at a specific individual but an expression pointing out problems in the establishment process.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original