A dramatic new development unfolded on February 20 in the ongoing legal dispute between Min Hee-jin and HYBE, after private messages exchanged between the former ADOR CEO and BTS member V were introduced in court.
The messages, reportedly shared via KakaoTalk, were presented as part of the proceedings during the first ruling in Min Hee-jin’s stock settlement lawsuit against HYBE. Although V is not directly involved in the legal battle, his personal conversation unexpectedly became a key talking point during the hearing.
Soon after the reports surfaced, V — whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung — addressed the situation publicly through his Instagram Story. In a statement written in Korean, he clarified that the messages were part of a private and everyday exchange.
“This was simply a personal conversation where I responded with empathy because she is an acquaintance,” he explained, firmly adding that he had no intention of taking sides in the dispute.
The BTS singer also expressed shock and discomfort that his personal communication had been used as legal evidence without his prior knowledge or consent. He stressed that his remarks were made in a personal context to show understanding, not to support or validate any claims under legal scrutiny.
According to reports from the courtroom, the conversation was reviewed as part of the broader evaluation of the case. In the chat, V had reportedly acknowledged that discussions about similarities between certain songs had been circulating and that some parts felt “similar.” However, the court treated these comments strictly as personal observations rather than formal testimony or allegations.
Following V’s clarification, HYBE released its own statement through Korean media outlets. The agency emphasised that the exchange was entirely private and intended as an empathetic response to an acquaintance.
HYBE also reiterated that the singer was unhappy with his private words being brought into the courtroom without his consent.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin remains locked in a compensation dispute with HYBE over her company shares. In a recent ruling, a Seoul court reportedly directed HYBE to pay her approximately 25.5 billion won (around $17.5 million) in connection with the ongoing case.