Cookies, Coach & Cartier: Twin Court Dramas Shake K-pop & Korean Politics
September 11, 2025 was a heavy day worldwide — a day of remembrance in the United States, and in Korea, a day where two courtroom towers collapsed at once. On one side, NewJeans saw their final mediation with ADOR fail in just 20 minutes. On the other, Min Hee-jin spent nearly five hours in a heated courtroom battle with HYBE over her ₩26 billion put-option claim.
Together, these events mark what we’re calling the Cookies → Coach → Cartier ladder by the Jezebel Institute of Treachery: small, medium, and large-scale dramas playing out on Korea’s biggest stages.
🍪 Cookies: NewJeans’ Final Mediation Crumbles
The five-member girl group NewJeans has been locked in a legal standoff with ADOR/HYBE over the validity of their exclusive contracts.
On September 11, their last mediation attempt lasted barely 20 minutes.
None of the members appeared in person this time, unlike the previous session where Minji and Danielle attended.
The dispute remains: the girls argue that trust was broken after Min Hee-jin’s ouster; ADOR counters that contracts were honored, financial settlements made, and no grounds for termination exist.
📌 What’s Next? The court will issue its final ruling on October 30, 2025.
👛 Coach: Min Hee-jin’s Five-Hour Courtroom Showdown
While NewJeans’ mediation fizzled, Min Hee-jin (former ADOR CEO) battled HYBE in a marathon hearing over her ₩26 billion (~US$19M) put-option claim.
Min insists HYBE must buy back her shares under the shareholder agreement.
HYBE argues the contract was terminated after her dismissal in 2024.
The session devolved into heated back-and-forth with HYBE’s Chief Legal Officer Jung Jin-soo, a Duke Law–trained veteran with Kim & Chang pedigree.
🔥 Biggest Bombshell: HYBE accused Min of submitting falsified KakaoTalk evidence — doctored chat logs suggesting pressure and harassment. If proven, this isn’t just bad optics; under Korean law, it could carry up to 10 years in prison for false evidence submission.
💎 Cartier: Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s Luxury Bribes
While the K-pop world reeled, Korea’s political stage brought even higher stakes.
Kim Keon-hee, the former First Lady, has been arrested and indicted on charges of bribery, stock fraud, and illegal influence-peddling.
Alleged bribes include:
Chanel bags
Van Cleef & Arpels pendant (~₩60M)
Vacheron Constantin watch (~₩54M)
Cartier jewelry
High-end artwork and designer shoes
She remains in custody at Nambu Detention Center. If convicted, she could face years in prison — making history as Korea’s first First Lady to stand trial under arrest.
🔮 Why It Matters
The September 11 twin dramas show us the different scales of Korea’s power struggles:
🍪 Cookies → NewJeans fighting for their future as artists.
👛 Coach → Min Hee-jin chasing her payout, accused of courtroom manipulation.
💎 Cartier → Kim Keon-hee trading luxury trinkets for government posts.
From K-pop idols to political elites, the message is the same: when trust collapses, the fallout is public, messy, and unforgettable.
📰 What’s Next
October 30: Court ruling on NewJeans’ contracts.
November 27: Cross-examination of Min Hee-jin in the HYBE lawsuit.
September 24: Kim Keon-hee’s first formal trial hearing.
Stay tuned to Seoulite TV for full coverage of Korea’s courtroom season — where the Jezebel Institute of Treachery always has a fresh syllabus.
👉 Your Take:
Do you think NewJeans should be released from their contracts?
Was HYBE right to accuse Min Hee-jin of evidence forgery?
And will Kim Keon-hee’s Cartier trail finally bring accountability to Korea’s elites?
Drop your comments below ⬇️