BTS’ V clarifies leaked private messages amid Min Hee-jin’s legal battle with HYBE
According to the report of Korean JoongAng Daily, BTS’s V has spoken out after private messages between him and former ADOR chief Min Hee-jin turned up in court documents tied to her ongoing lawsuit against HYBE. The leak adds yet another twist to one of K-pop’s most talked-about corporate battles.
Legal insiders say screenshots of a KakaoTalk chat between V and Min ended up in a Seoul Central District Court ruling about Min’s payment claim under a stock put-option deal. The conversation popped up as people argued over whether girl groups ILLIT and NewJeans are too similar a debate that’s been stirring up bigger questions about originality in K-pop.
V took to social media to clear the air, saying the chat was just a normal, private conversation. He made it clear he wasn’t taking sides and said he felt blindsided that his messages got dragged into the case without his permission. He doesn’t want any part in the legal fight.
According to V:” I have absolutely no intention of taking sides. It was part of a private, everyday conversation I had with an acquaintance, and I would caution against overinterpretation.
I was also very taken aback that the conversation was submitted as evidence without my consent” He added.
BigHit Music backed him up, explaining that V was just being empathetic in a personal exchange, not siding with any of Min’s arguments. The agency also said V’s pretty unhappy about his private messages making their way into legal evidence.
All this comes as tension between Min and HYBE keeps building, mostly over shareholder deals and management issues since Min left ADOR. Earlier this month, the court ordered HYBE to pay Min about 25.5 billion won a decision that’s likely to influence the next round of appeals and negotiations.
People in the industry say using celebrity messages as evidence just shows how much privacy is at risk these days, especially with high-profile entertainment disputes that seem to spill into every corner of the business.
Source: (1)
Reportby: liamkim@ygkplusofficial.com
Read also: Court Admits Reported KakaoTalk Messages in HYBE–Min Hee-jin Legal Dispute, Involving V
South Korean Professional Journalist
