"Reporters will end up writing about Lee Ha-neul"... Lee Ha-neul, Ahead of Trial, 2024 Recording Released

"I was the one who introduced Jubit Train to the company, but at some point, I found myself accused of wrongful termination."

DJ DOC member Lee Ha-neul has spoken at length for the first time about the dispute with Jubitrain, which has been ongoing for over three years.

This conflict began in 2024 after Jubitrain filed a complaint with the Labor Relations Commission, claiming they had been unfairly dismissed from the company they had been affiliated with. Since then, the two sides have engaged in numerous legal battles over issues such as defamation and the dissemination of false information. Recently, attention has been drawn once again as part of the defamation case filed by Jubitrain has moved to the trial stage.

In response, DJ DOC’s Lee Ha-neul, who had refrained from making public statements until now, released audio recordings and related materials documenting the situation during an interview on the 8th. He explained, “I felt that the overall context was not being properly conveyed because only certain incidents were being repeatedly highlighted, so I decided to release the relevant materials.”

◆ 2024 Recording Released Ahead of Trial

The most notable piece of material Lee Ha-neul released this time is a recording from February 2024.

The recording, obtained by Lee Ha-neul’s side, contains discussions between company officials and Jubit Train regarding the conflict situation and future response strategies. This conversation took place before complaints to the Labor Office and media reports began in earnest.

Lee Ha-neul’s side claims that this recording serves as evidence revealing the background of the conflict that later led to the Labor Office complaint and media responses.

In the recording reviewed by [media outlet], amid complaints regarding company operations and decision-making structures, remarks are made that appear to refer to responding to the Labor Office and providing information to the media.

In particular, the recording includes remarks that could be interpreted as Lee Ha-neul playing a mediating role to resolve the conflict at the time.

In response, Lee Ha-neul stated, “With recent reports regarding the trial continuing, I judged that it was no longer possible to remain silent,” adding, “The recording released this time is also material intended to explain the situation at the time.”

However, as the recording captures a conversation at a specific point in time, it cannot definitively determine who was responsible for the conflict at the time or the legitimacy of the subsequent complaint to the Labor Relations Commission and legal action.

◆ “I Was Neither the CEO Nor an Executive”

One of the key issues in this dispute is Lee Ha-neul’s role.

Jubitrain has consistently raised questions about Lee Ha-neul’s responsibility in the unfair dismissal process, but Lee Ha-neul maintains that he was a participating artist in the project, not a member of the company’s management.

She stated, “I was neither the CEO, nor an executive, nor a shareholder of that company,” adding, “I am someone who has no authority to dismiss employees, yet at some point, I became known as a party to the unfair dismissal.”

She further explained, “At the time, we needed personnel to work on the album project, so I introduced Jubitrain to the company and facilitated their collaboration.”

He claimed, “Even after the conflict arose, I tried to mediate between the two sides,” adding, “It was an issue between the company and Jubit Train, but in the end, all the blame was directed at me.”

He also added, “At first, I simply connected them so they could work together, but as a result, I ended up at the center of all the disputes.”

Lee Ha-neul claimed that the recording he released also serves as evidence supporting these claims.

◆ Claim: “12 Criminal Complaints and Accusations… Most Not Referred for Prosecution”

The conflict between the two sides escalated beyond a simple verbal exchange into multiple criminal complaints and legal disputes.

Jubit Train has maintained that Lee Ha-neul repeatedly made false statements about them during live broadcasts and other platforms, thereby defaming their reputation.

According to Jubit Train, Lee Ha-neul received a summary order for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and is now facing additional charges and an upcoming trial. The case is currently being heard at the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, and the first hearing has been postponed to July.

On the other hand, Lee Ha-neul explained regarding the case, "This is not a matter where I simply accepted the prosecution’s summary order, but rather one where I personally requested a formal trial."

She argued, “People think I’m being dragged into court, but the reality is different,” adding, “I requested a formal trial to explain in court the parts where I feel I’ve been wronged.”

She also stated, “Over the past three years, there have been around 12 complaints and accusations filed against me, and in a significant number of cases, the charges were dismissed or no charges were filed,” adding, “Since only some of the cases were reported in the news, the overall situation has not been widely known.”

However, Jubitrain has stated separately that many cases are still under investigation or in the trial process, leading to conflicting claims between the two sides.

◆ Why Speak Out Now?

Lee Ha-neul said she felt the need to explain her position directly as reports regarding the trial have continued recently.

She said, “Whenever I offered an explanation, another attack followed, and whenever I responded, the same cycle repeated itself. That’s why I’ve been holding my tongue.”

She continued, “It’s up to each person to judge the situation,” adding, “Still, I felt I needed to speak out at least once about the position I was in and the process I went through.”

The dispute, which has lasted for over three years, is still ongoing.

In an interview with this publication, Lee Ha-neul revealed for the first time the recordings and materials she had kept, explaining her perspective on the dispute at the time. Meanwhile, Jubit Train continues to pursue legal action, alleging the dissemination of false information and defamation.

The recently released recordings are noteworthy because they capture conversations that took place before the labor complaints, media reports, and legal battles began in earnest.

However, these recordings represent only a fraction of the entire case. The claims and counterarguments put forward by both sides remain sharply at odds, and the relevant facts are expected to be further verified through evidence and testimony to be presented during future court proceedings.