On November 27, 2025, the legal battle between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and the entertainment giant HYBE continued with the third hearing at the Seoul Central District Court’s 31st Civil Division.
The hearing focused on the lawsuit concerning the termination of the shareholders’ agreement and Min Hee Jin’s claim to exercise her put option against HYBE.
In a dramatic turn, Min Hee Jin personally appeared in court to provide her testimony as a party to the case, where she became visibly emotional, shedding tears while recounting the circumstances of her recruitment by HYBE’s Chairman, Bang Si Hyuk.
Her testimony shed light on the initial, highly personal nature of their professional relationship, contrasting sharply with their current legal dispute.
The Recruitment: Desperate for “SM Personified”
Min Hee Jin detailed the speed and fervor of Bang Si Hyuk’s recruitment efforts immediately following her resignation from SM Entertainment, where she had served as Creative Director for years.
Min Hee Jin officially resigned from SM on December 31, 2018. She testified that Bang Si Hyuk reached out to her just two days later, on January 2, 2019.
When she questioned how he knew of her departure so quickly, Bang Si Hyuk allegedly responded by admitting that he had “informants” within SM who had relayed the news of her resignation.
He stated that he had viewed her as the “SM personified” and had never expected her to leave, expressing his immense relief and excitement when he heard the news.
He immediately and aggressively began courting her, emphasizing his urgent desire to “recruit [her] as talent” for his company, which was then known as Big Hit Music, the predecessor of HYBE.
Bang Si Hyuk’s Vision and Lack of Confidence in Girl Groups
Min Hee Jin’s testimony also revealed the specific business challenges that drove Bang Si Hyuk to seek her out.
He openly shared his corporate vision, which was rooted in a profound “distrust of the existing entertainment industry” and an explicit “criticism of SM Entertainment,” expressing a desire to reform the business model.
Crucially, Bang Si Hyuk conveyed his lack of confidence in successfully launching a girl group.
He referenced his previous, unsuccessful attempt with the group GLAM, which he had co-managed with So Sung Jin of Source Music.
Because of this past failure, he told Min Hee Jin that he “had no confidence in girl groups” and consequently understood that he “needed [her]” expert creative and strategic direction.
At the time, Min Hee Jin confirmed she was also entertaining a competing offer from Kakao Entertainment, positioning her as a highly sought-after industry veteran.
The Plea and Min Hee Jin’s Motivation
To emphasize the lengths to which Bang Si Hyuk went to secure her, Min Hee Jin recounted an extraordinary moment during a meal with the Chairman.
By chance, her parents called her, and Bang Si Hyuk reportedly seized the opportunity to communicate his sincerity directly to her father.
Min Hee Jin testified that he told her father,
“I will make sure your daughter can do what she wants and do it well,” and repeatedly emphasized, “I really want her to come to our company.”
She described the situation as one where he was “practically getting down on his knees to ask” her to join.
Bang Si Hyuk also claimed to have been a “long-time fan” of her creative work and genuinely wanted to collaborate.
Moved by this level of commitment and perceived sincerity, and believing that a company run by someone who “believed in me and allowed me to do what I wanted” would be the right fit, Min Hee Jin ultimately chose to join HYBE, swayed by Bang Si Hyuk’s promise of “unlimited support.”
Min Hee Jin’s testimony concludes by mentioning the heartache her parents felt after the current dispute with HYBE began, underscoring the deep personal investment made in her career move.
The South Korean entertainment industry is mourning the loss of yet another deeply respected figure with the passing of veteran actor Lee Moon Soo.
The news of his death was announced by the Korean Theatre Actors Association on November 29, 2025.
Lee Moon Soo passed away at the age of 76 the previous evening at a hospital in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.
He had been quietly battling lung cancer since his diagnosis in 2022, marking a two-year struggle that ultimately concluded his prolific career spanning over three decades on both stage and screen.
His death comes just days after the passing of fellow veteran actor Lee Soon Jae, adding a layer of collective grief to the Korean acting community.
A Quiet Giant of the Korean Stage
Lee Moon Soo’s journey into acting was a testament to his enduring passion and commitment to the craft.
Born in March 1949, he initially pursued a career as a civil servant to support his family, a detail often recalled by those who admired his integrity.
Despite his initial professional path, he never abandoned the desire to perform, an aspiration that led him to enroll late in life at the prestigious Seoul Institute of the Arts.
His formal acting career began in earnest in 1989 when he joined the National Theater Company of Korea.
This move established him firmly in the world of classical and contemporary theatre, where he became a central and highly respected figure.
Throughout his tenure, Lee Moon Soo anchored numerous major stage productions, earning a reputation for his profound, sincere, and uncompromising approach to performance.
His notable stage credits include acclaimed works such as The Crucible, The Problematic Human Yeonsan, the Arthur Miller classic Death of a Salesman, and Shakespeare’s King Lear and The Seagull.
Colleagues remember him not for glamour, but as a “diligent and dignified actor” who prioritized “sincerity as a performer,” reflecting his deep, lifelong devotion to the stage despite the financial challenges often faced by theater artists.
Leaving an Indelible Mark on the Screen
While the theater remained his artistic home, Lee Moon Soo successfully transitioned to make an indelible mark on the small and big screens, bringing his grounded and humane acting style to a wider audience.
He became a familiar face to K-drama and film viewers, often playing supporting roles that left a lasting impression.
Among his most recognized television roles was his moving portrayal of detective Lee Jae Han’s father in the highly acclaimed 2016 tvN drama Signal.
He also graced the screen in globally popular dramas such as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin), The Beauty Inside, Ghost Doctor, and Rookie Cops, showcasing his ability to transcend genres and generations.
On the film front, he gained significant public recognition for his role as the “perverted ghost” in the 2010 comedy-drama Hello Ghost, a performance that highlighted his versatility.
Other notable film appearances include Romantic Heaven and Late Blossom.
His dedication was officially recognized in 2010 when he was honored with a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation for his extensive contributions to the arts.
His final screen appearance was in the 2022 Coupang Play drama, Unicorn.
Final Arrangements and Enduring Legacy
The Korean Theatre Actors Association confirmed that Lee Moon Soo passed away while receiving treatment for lung cancer, having fought the illness since 2022. He is survived by his wife, Yoon Se Sook, and their family.
Details regarding his memorial have been released by the association. The wake has been set up at Room 2 of the funeral hall at Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul.
The funeral procession is scheduled to depart at 8:20 a.m. KST on Monday, December 1st, with the interment taking place at Eden Memorial Park.
The industry will remember Lee Moon Soo as a “quiet yet unflinchingly resolute senior” and a true master of profound, sincere acting, whose extensive body of work enriched both the Korean stage and screen for over three decades.
