In a surprising turn of events, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has cleared HYBE of any workplace harassment allegations after an investigation into claims made by a former vice president of the company.

The accusations, which involved some of HYBE's top executives, have left the entertainment giant with a sigh of relief. But the plot thickens, as former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin's involvement in the whole ordeal has raised some serious questions.

The case began last September when L, a former HYBE executive and close associate of Min Hee Jin, filed a report claiming illegal audits and workplace harassment within the company. L named several top HYBE executives, including Kim Juyoung, the CEO of ADOR, and Lee Kyung Jun, ADOR's CFO, as the alleged harassers.

L’s accusations quickly became tangled with a bitter legal feud over management control at ADOR, which is one of HYBE’s labels. For those unfamiliar, this feud between Min Hee Jin and HYBE has been simmering for months, and this new report only added fuel to the fire.

According to industry insiders, the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office officially closed the case in December, finding no evidence to support the claims of workplace harassment at HYBE.

However, the saga doesn't end there. The investigation took a dramatic turn when L revealed in messages obtained by Chosun Biz that Min Hee Jin had been advising L on how to respond to the investigation. She reportedly suggested that L file the harassment report as a way to pressure both sides into a fair investigation.

Min Hee Jin allegedly even coached L on when to use sick leave to delay the re-investigation of a separate harassment claim filed by an employee named A against L.

As tensions rose, A, the alleged victim of workplace harassment, began questioning the fairness of the investigation, especially after learning that Min Hee Jin had been involved in coaching L.

A went so far as to request a re-investigation in August 2023, accusing Min Hee Jin of manipulating the process. Min Hee Jin’s alleged interference is now a key focus in the ongoing legal battle.

While Min Hee Jin and her PR team have yet to comment on the matter, this latest development only adds to the public scrutiny of her role in the drama.

Meanwhile, A has taken legal action, filing a lawsuit against Min Hee Jin for violating labor laws and personal privacy. The battle is now moving to formal court proceedings, where the future of both Min Hee Jin and the management of ADOR could be at stake.

As the dust settles, HYBE may have been cleared of the harassment charges, but the tangled web of legal drama involving Min Hee Jin is far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on this high-profile case as it continues to unfold.

Source: [1]

The upcoming SBS drama Love Scout, starring Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk, is already making headlines—but for all the wrong reasons.

Recent revelations about the show’s co-director, Ham Joon Ho, have sparked controversy. It was revealed that Ham Joon Ho had faced legal issues in 2020 for assault and defamation while intoxicated.

This incident led to disciplinary action within SBS and has raised questions about his involvement in the new project.

On January 13, the production team of Love Scout released an official apology, saying, "We deeply regret causing concern with unpleasant news related to PD Ham Joon Ho."

They confirmed the allegations, stating, "It is true that PD Ham Joon Ho was accused of assault and defamation while intoxicated in early 2020. However, he sincerely apologized to all victims, and the matter was resolved through forgiveness and mutual agreement."

They added, "He also received legal punishment for the incident. Additionally, reports about his prior criminal record from five years ago are unrelated to this case, as they involve a misdemeanor."

The team explained that Ham Joon Ho was suspended from his duties following the incident and spent three years reflecting on his actions before returning to directing. They added, "We kindly ask for viewers’ understanding."

The controversy began after online posts brought up the 2020 incident, sharing a news article from that time. The article described an SBS drama department employee, referred to as “A,” causing a disturbance in Hannam-dong, Seoul, while intoxicated. Police booked “A,” and due to their prior criminal record, an arrest warrant was requested but later denied.

It was later confirmed that “A” was PD Ham Joon Ho. After serving his suspension, he made his directorial comeback with the SBS drama Payback before taking on Love Scout.

Despite the production team's apology, the controversy has cast a shadow over the highly anticipated drama, leaving viewers wondering how it will impact the show’s reception.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!

Source: [1]