On June 10, Belift Lab posted a video on its official YouTube channel refuting allegations that ILLIT had copied NewJeans.

The label argued that ILLIT did not plagiarize NewJeans and brought various individuals involved in the girl group’s production to refute various claims. Lee Ga Joon, head of operation, argued, “We had two concepts for the concept photos. We had the super version and the real version. For the super version, we wanted to capture the teenage girls’ quirkiness and liveliness. So we had photos of the members buried in teddy bear dolls or animal-shaped clouds. These were the concepts the members also chimed in on. The real version is the natural image of the girls in reality,” arguing that ILLIT’s concept was original.

The operations lead emphasized that both the super version and the real version need to be considered to fully understand ILLIT’s concept. She argued that ILLIT faced unfair criticism because the public only focused on the real version.

Performance director Myung Sang Woo also argued that ILLIT’s choreography was not a copy of NewJeans. He refuted, “I think it’s a stretch to say that this part (choreography) is mentioned as plagiarism. When we prospect famous choreographers and ask them to make a choreography, we give them about ten directions. When we inquired about the choreography, we did not mention NewJeans at all.”

He continued to argue that many of the ILLIT’s choreography are simple moves that are fundamental to dancing. He argued, “The kick and step is a very old move that is the most fundamental and basic of all. When you first learn hip hop (dancing), you learn this step at the dance academy.”

Myung Sang Woo also pointed out other girl groups and boy groups use variations of certain dance moves and argued, “If that’s the case, then everyone’s copying.” He cited groups like VIVIZ, IVE, and NMIXX as examples, suggesting that they, too, were replicating elements from NewJeans, amid public assertions that ILLIT was doing the same.

After Belift Lab released the video, fans started flagging both the video and Belift Lab’s YouTube channel, labeling them as Cyber Wrecker content.

One fan reported Belift Lab’s YouTube channel to JYP Entertainment for spreading false information about NMIXX. One part of the video suggested that NMIXX’s ‘Love Me Like This‘ choreography, released on March 20, 2023, is similar to NewJeans’ ‘Ditto‘ choreography, released on January 2, 2023.

The fan reported Belift Lab’s YouTube channel and stated, “Reporting a malicious cyber wrecker YouTuber spreading malicious incitement videos that suggest NMIXX’s ‘Love Me Like This’ (released March 20, 2023) choreography is similar to NewJeans’ ‘Ditto’ (released January 02, 2023) choreography. Urgent action is requested.”

Korean netizens also commented: 

• “lol.”
• “They need to be sued.”
• “They wrote the email so well.”
• “JYP get to work.”
• “Cyber Wrecker. lol.”
• “This is so hilarious.”
• “So funny how the fan reported Belift Lab’s YouTube channel.”
• “Amazing how Belift Lab managed to make enemies with everyone.”
• “This is so well written, lol.”
• “That was so fast.”
• “It was reported immediately.”