What happened?

Prosecutors at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch summarily indicted L, a former deputy CEO of ADOR, on October 15. According to Dispatch, prosecutors are seeking a fine of 5 million won for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

Who is L?

L is a former accountant who joined HYBE in December 2019 and worked in its finance department until January 2024. After moving to ADOR on February 1, 2024, L worked alongside former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.

What did prosecutors say?

According to prosecutors, L applied for additional personal access to a HYBE finance folder in October 2023 and kept that access after switching companies. On April 8, 2024, L allegedly accessed the folder from ADOR's Seoul office and downloaded files 51 times. The files reportedly included HYBE's income statements, financial statements, and regional revenue data for label artists in 2021 and 2022.

What is a summary indictment?

A summary indictment means prosecutors ask the court to decide on a fine through written review instead of a full trial. The defendant can request a formal trial if they disagree with the order.

For international fans

The case is part of a wider dispute between HYBE and ADOR, which also involves former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and the group NewJeans. Under the law, unauthorized network intrusion can carry up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won, but the prosecutors have requested a fine only.