HYBE seeks court restrictions on access to trial records in Min Hee Jin lawsuits

HYBE wins court approval to restrict access to records in Min Hee Jin case

• HYBE won court approval to limit access to some records in Min Hee Jin lawsuits.
• Court rules some documents contain sensitive business info, must stay confidential
• The legal dispute involves claims worth about 26 billion won

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HYBE has taken another notable step in its ongoing legal dispute with former ADOR chief executive officer Min Hee Jin, confirming that it has successfully limited public access to certain court records connected to the case.

As the high-profile conflict continues, parts of the legal battle are now set to remain out of the public eye.

According to legal sources, HYBE submitted formal requests to restrict access to trial documents in two separate civil lawsuits involving Min Hee Jin. One case centres on confirming the termination of a shareholder agreement, while the other concerns a claim related to a stock purchase payment.

The court partially agreed with HYBE’s requests, ruling that some of the materials the company submitted can only be viewed by the parties directly involved in the litigation.

The first application was reportedly filed on 8 January in the shareholder agreement termination case, followed by a similar request on 12 January in the stock purchase payment lawsuit.

HYBE argued that the records in question contained sensitive internal information, including confidential business reports, and that making them publicly accessible could cause harm.

Under South Korean civil law, courts are allowed to restrict access to trial records when they involve trade secrets or sensitive corporate information.

When such restrictions are approved, third parties are barred from viewing or copying the documents, keeping them strictly between the opposing sides. In some cases, access can also be limited if public disclosure could disrupt social order or significantly affect the lives of those involved.

In this instance, the court concluded that HYBE’s request was partly justified and ordered that certain submitted materials remain confidential.

This marks a shift from an earlier attempt by the company. In June last year, HYBE had sought similar restrictions during an injunction case aimed at blocking Min Hee Jin from exercising voting rights, but that request was dismissed due to insufficient grounds.

The legal standoff between HYBE and Min Hee Jin remains both complex and high-stakes. The two civil lawsuits together involve claims worth around 26 billion won (approximately 17.6 million US dollars). Both cases are currently being heard at the first-instance level.

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The scale of the dispute is reflected in the legal teams assembled on both sides. HYBE is reportedly represented by 21 attorneys, while Min Hee Jin has engaged 22 lawyers, including members of the prominent firm Kim & Chang and several former senior judicial figures.

As proceedings continue, the court’s decision to limit access to certain records highlights just how sensitive the information at the heart of the dispute may be — and signals that key details of the case will now remain behind closed doors.