Major Legal Cases Expected in K-Pop Industry in 2026, Including HYBE-Min Hee-jin Lawsuit and FIFTY FIFTY Dispute

The K-Pop industry will face several significant lawsuits in 2026 centered on disputes over control rights and unfair contract terms. Although the NewJeans-related conflict has been resolved, major trials are set to proceed one after another, including a lawsuit between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, the FIFTY FIFTY dispute, a defamation lawsuit involving BTS, the case regarding Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, for illegally importing watches, and a contract dispute between SM Entertainment and EXO members. These rulings are expected to determine the contractual structures and liability frameworks across the industry.

**January: Full-Scale Confrontation Between Min Hee-jin and HYBE**

The first trial will take place on January 9 at the Civil Division 12 of the Seoul Western District Court, featuring the first instance of a damages lawsuit between HYBE’s label “BilllieFrap” and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. In April 2024, after Min made statements at a press conference claiming ILLIT had plagiarized NewJeans, BilllieFrap responded with legal action, accusing her of making unfounded accusations. During arguments in November 2025, BilllieFrap argued that Min betrayed HYBE to gain independent control over ADOR and used the press conference to falsely label ILLIT as plagiarists of NewJeans. In response, Min’s side claimed that the numerous articles attacking her personal rights prior to the press conference were part of a propaganda campaign orchestrated by HYBE, and that BilllieFrap and HYBE attempted to silence and discredit her.

On January 15, the first instance trials for terminating the shareholder agreement between HYBE and Min Hee-jin and for claiming stock purchase payment will take place. In July 2024, HYBE terminated the shareholder agreement, alleging that Min sought to privatize ADOR and NewJeans, and removed her from her role as ADOR CEO in August of the same year. After stepping down as an internal director at ADOR, Min notified HYBE that she intended to exercise a put option worth around 26 billion won, but HYBE claims that since the shareholder agreement was terminated, the put option is invalid.

On the same day, the first instance verdict in the damages lawsuit filed by FIFTY FIFTY’s agency “ADOR” against The G-Verse CEO Ahn Seong-il, seeking over 2.1 billion won in compensation, will be announced. ADOR CEO Jeon Hong-jun and Ahn are in conflict over the departure of former FIFTY FIFTY members Sana, Sio, and Aaran from their agency.

On January 23, the appellate judgment in the damages lawsuit filed by BTS’s agency “Big Hit” against Park, the operator of the YouTube channel “Taldek Su-yong-so,” will be issued. Big Hit sued Park for posting false videos that damaged the reputation of BTS members and disrupted the company’s operations. In February 2025, the first instance court ruled that Park must pay 51 million won to Big Hit, 15 million won to BTS’s Jung Kook, and 10 million won to BTS’s V.

**February–March: 13-Billion-Won Lawsuit and Yang Hyun-suk’s Watch Import Case**

In February, the first instance trial for a damages lawsuit between ADOR, the three former FIFTY FIFTY members, and Ahn Seong-il will take place. With a claim value of 13 billion won and 12 defendants, this case is the largest among all FIFTY FIFTY-related disputes.

In March, the first instance hearing for the case regarding Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment,’s illegal import of watches will be held. In September 2024, prosecutors charged Yang with violating the Special Crime Aggravation Punishment Act (customs regulations) for allegedly bringing two luxury watch brands from Richard Mille in Singapore worth hundreds of millions of won into South Korea without declaring them to customs. Yang’s side claims that the watches were donated by Richard Mille for promotional purposes and that they were received in Seoul, not Singapore.

During the same month, the first instance arguments in the contract performance lawsuit filed by SM Entertainment against EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin will also take place. In June 2023, the two parties agreed that while EXO would continue group activities under SM Entertainment, individual and sub-unit activities would be handled by their own independent label, but they are now in legal dispute over compliance with this agreement.

Additionally, the first instance trial of a damages lawsuit filed by ADOR in December 2025 against former NewJeans member Danielle and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, seeking over 43 billion won in compensation, is also drawing attention.