Overview
- V said on Instagram that his KakaoTalk exchange with Min Hee‑jin was a private conversation, that he was not taking sides, and that it was used in court without his consent.
- Court documents show the messages were included in the first‑trial record, with V reportedly noting he thought some elements looked “similar” in the NewJeans–ILLIT dispute.
- HYBE issued a statement calling the exchange an empathetic, personal chat and voiced dissatisfaction that it entered the record without the artist’s approval.
- The Seoul Central District Court ruled on February 12 in favor of Min Hee‑jin on the shareholder put‑option dispute, ordering HYBE to pay about 25.5 billion won and classifying her plagiarism suspicions as opinion.
- Indian media reports note HYBE has appealed the ruling, while fans debate privacy and timing as BTS prepares a March 20 album release and world tour.