Legal Challenge by Min Hee-jin Against Workplace Bullying Allegations
On March 25, 2025, Monthly Chosun reported that Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, is mounting a legal defense against the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s recent findings regarding allegations of workplace bullying. The ministry had previously indicated its intention to impose a fine, stating that certain actions of Min Hee-jin amounted to workplace harassment.
Min Hee-jin’s legal team contest the ministry’s ruling, asserting that there were significant inaccuracies in the interpretation of the case and its applicable legal standards. They have made it clear that they plan to formally appeal the decision.
According to Monthly Chosun, the legal representatives stated:
“Upon reviewing the response regarding the handling of the case, it was confirmed that the facts surrounding the remarks that were determined to be workplace bullying were incorrectly acknowledged, and that there was a misunderstanding of the legal principles of the Labor Standards Act regarding workplace bullying and the duty of objective investigation.”
They further added:
“Accordingly, we plan to proceed with formal appeal procedures, such as promptly submitting opinions to the administrative agency, to uncover the exact truth of the case and clear the unjust accusations.”
Background of the Allegations
The controversy arose when a former employee of ADOR, identified as ‘B’, accused Min Hee-jin of workplace harassment and alleged bias in addressing a separate sexual harassment case involving another executive. These claims were first brought to light in August of the previous year, prompting an investigation by the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office.
Min Hee-jin’s legal team has expressed concern that some comments made by her were misclassified as workplace bullying in the official ruling. They criticized the media’s portrayal of this ruling as definitive and emphasized that it is merely a preliminary decision, with plans for further legal recourse.
Details of the Ministry’s Findings
The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor partially validated the accusations made by B. It concluded that Min Hee-jin’s persistent remarks towards B went beyond acceptable workplace behavior, leading to discomfort and potentially harmful effects on the work environment. Consequently, the ministry issued a preliminary fine against her as part of the administrative resolution.
The Ministry declared:
“The continuous comments made by former CEO Min to Mr. B exceeded the appropriate scope of work and may have caused physical and mental suffering to the complainant or worsened the work environment, and therefore constituted workplace bullying. We have imposed a fine on the perpetrator (former CEO Min) in advance and concluded the administrative case.”
Other Related Allegations and Public Reaction
In addition to Min Hee-jin’s case, the Ministry also examined allegations against another former executive at ADOR, referred to as Vice President A. The investigation revealed that ADOR did not conduct an adequate inquiry into those allegations. However, no legal violations were found concerning the sexual harassment claims, resulting in corrective guidance rather than punitive measures.
B characterized the ruling as significant, viewing it as the first formal acknowledgment of misconduct within the company. They believe this ruling could have implications on ongoing civil and criminal matters. In contrast, Min Hee-jin’s legal team pointed out that no financial penalty had yet been finalized and vowed to challenge the ministry’s preliminary decision.
Moreover, they called on the media to avoid disseminating misleading information about the ruling, emphasizing the necessity of clarifying the status of the case:
“This case does not mean that a surcharge was imposed, but rather that prior notice was given before the surcharge was imposed, and any objections were reviewed. If there are no objections, the surcharge is ultimately imposed. The surcharge has not been imposed yet; it is merely a prior notice.”
Min Hee-jin’s Tenure at ADOR
Min Hee-jin held the position of CEO at ADOR from its inception in 2020 until her resignation in August of the previous year. She subsequently stepped down as an executive director in November, thus severing her ties with the organization. This case has ignited discussions among observers, some of whom question whether B’s accusations were influenced by factors outside of the workplace, particularly involving ADOR’s parent company, HYBE.
However, B has firmly denied any connections between the timing of their complaint and the ongoing disputes involving ADOR and HYBE.