Representatives of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, who currently heads ooak records, have explained the circumstances behind the postponement of a ruling in a damages lawsuit filed by a former ADOR employee.
In an official statement on October 15, ooak records said, "On May 27, Min's side officially received a police decision not to refer the case to prosecutors and a prosecutorial decision not to indict in connection with defamation allegations."
ooak records explained, "As decisive and objective evidence had been secured, the court granted the motion to reopen the proceedings so that the evidence could be submitted to the court." The company added, "Min's side had been aware of the police and prosecutorial decisions, which are favorable to the civil case, for some time but had refrained from unnecessary media maneuvering. However, as distorted reports continued to appear in some media outlets, we had no choice but to clarify the facts."
The lawsuit involves a claim for 100 million won in damages filed against Min by former ADOR employee "A." A alleges that they experienced workplace harassment and sexual harassment while employed at the company, that Min attempted to cover up the incidents, and that Min subsequently damaged their reputation by spreading false information. Min has denied the allegations.
The Seoul Western District Court's Civil Division 21 concluded the proceedings at the fourth hearing on July 23 and scheduled the ruling for October 15 at 2 p.m. However, Min's legal team filed a motion to reopen the proceedings on September 21, ahead of the scheduled ruling, followed by a request to change the hearing date on September 29. After the court granted the motion to reopen the proceedings, the ruling was not delivered as scheduled. The case is set to resume on November 26 at 3:50 p.m.
Earlier, a media outlet reported that Min's side had criticized the plaintiffs in a separate damages lawsuit filed by HYBE subsidiaries BELIFT LAB and SOURCE MUSIC for seeking to reopen proceedings on October 14. Min's side described the move as "a typical stalling tactic and attempt to harass the defendant by plaintiffs struggling to substantiate their claims." The outlet also pointed out that Min's side had filed a similar motion approximately three weeks earlier in the present case, in which Min is the defendant.
In response, ooak records told the outlet that "Min's side filed the motion specifically to submit the police and prosecutorial decisions concerning A's defamation complaint to the court." The company added, "This is crucial evidence that could have a decisive impact on the judgment, and portraying the motion as a delay tactic misrepresents the fundamental nature of the filing."
Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)