Belift Lab has intensified its legal battle against ADOR and its CEO, Min Hee Jin, over allegations of plagiarism involving the rookie group ILLIT. On the afternoon of the 10th, Belift Lab released a detailed statement and video on their official social media channels, addressing the claims made by Min Hee Jin, who is also the CEO of NewJeans’ agency, ADOR.
In their statement, Belift Lab accused Min Hee Jin of exploiting an innocent rookie group for her personal benefit. They announced their intention to hold her accountable by filing an additional civil lawsuit for the damages inflicted on the artists, Belift Lab members, and participating creators.
Belift Lab clarified that the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 50’s decision on the 30th of the previous month to grant an injunction was not a ruling on the plagiarism issue. The decision was related to an injunction request to prevent HYBE from exercising its voting rights at ADOR’s temporary shareholders’ meeting.
They emphasized that it is incorrect to interpret this as a victory for Min Hee Jin on the plagiarism issue. Separate from the injunction, the criminal case for obstruction of business and defamation against Min Hee Jin will proceed.
Belift Lab also explained why they had not previously detailed their stance despite Min Hee Jin’s claims being misleadingly accepted as facts. They had hoped that Min Hee Jin would correct the issue herself. However, she continued to make unilateral claims, misleading the public to believe that the injunction’s acceptance validated all her claims.
Furthermore, Belift Lab released an interview video featuring CEO Kim Tae-ho, Deputy CEO Choi Yoon-hyuk, and ILLIT’s performance director Myung Sang-woo, directly refuting the similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans.
They criticized Min Hee Jin, stating that in her second press conference, she superficially showed gestures of reconciliation but did not offer a single word of apology or reflection to the innocent victims, including the artists suffering from severe malicious comments due to her actions. Instead, she shifted the blame to others, such as the media, which they found highly regrettable.
The latest escalation in the power struggle between HYBE and Min Hee Jin has arrived in the form of legal action from Belift Lab, a separate label under the Korean conglomerate. In a statement released on May 22, local time in Seoul, Belift Lab announced it is taking legal action against Min for defamation over her claims that the Belift team behind girl group ILLIT plagiarized her and ADOR’s work with NewJeans. The label is accusing Min of obstruction of business and defamation.
The news is just the latest development in a saga that has seen HYBE file a police report accusing Min of a breach of trust via an alleged plan to take over management control of ADOR. This was followed by an emotionally charged press conference on April 25, during which Min refuted the allegations.
One of Min’s most widely discussed claims from the press conference was that Belift Lab copied all the formulas that they had with NewJeans for the recently launched ILLIT, including musical concept, fashion collaborations, and more. Min said the members of ILLIT are innocent and that it’s the adults who have sinned.
Since that claim, online fighting between fans and social-media users on both sides of the conflict has brought various claims against multiple parties within the HYBE LABELS system, from artists to executives.
Further in its May 22 statement, Belift Lab declared that Min’s accusations of plagiarism are not true and that the label is vigorously pursuing all necessary legal avenues to clarify the facts, noting that the claims are Min’s opinions. The agency, which also houses boy band ENHYPEN, touched on the five members of ILLIT, noting that Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha have been facing unjustified malicious attacks, ridicule, and slander. They strongly urged these defamatory actions, ill-willed slander, the spreading of misinformation, and any form of personal attacks to stop.
The news comes amid a major week for HYBE, as the company prepares for the highly anticipated releases of both Right Place, Wrong Person—the latest solo album from BTS’ RM released under BIGHIT MUSIC—and How Sweet, a two-track single from NewJeans under ADOR, both out on May 24.
Belift Lab’s official statement, provided to Billboard by HYBE, emphasized that Min’s accusations of plagiarism are not true. They have provided conclusive evidence to the appropriate judicial authority to refute them. They are committed to vigorously pursuing all necessary legal avenues to clarify the facts, regardless of the time it will take.
It is important to note that claims of plagiarism should not be determined by an individual’s biased opinions but should instead be assessed through established legal standards and processes. It is regrettable that their artists and employees are being subjected to unwarranted speculation and misinformation, impacting their hard work and integrity.
Additionally, members of ILLIT have been facing unjustified malicious attacks, ridicule, and slander, despite being unrelated to the accusations at hand. Belift Lab strongly urged these defamatory actions, ill-willed slander, the spreading of misinformation, and any form of personal attacks to stop.
Belift Lab will spare no effort to protect their artists and employees.
