The entertainment industry is buzzing after shocking allegations from Min Hee Jin, the founder of ADOR and former CEO, suggesting that ILLIT, a project under Belift Lab, was intentionally modeled after NewJeans from its inception. This revelation, which was disclosed in court on October 11, has raised serious questions about the ethics of creative processes in K-pop.
Min Hee Jin Exposes Plagiarism Allegations
On October 11, Min Hee Jin appeared in court after filing an injunction protesting her forced removal from ADOR. The courts had previously ruled that HYBE was obligated to allow Min Hee Jin to fulfill her 5-year tenure as CEO. In this court session, she submitted evidence that seemingly proves that Belift Lab had plagiarized NewJeans during the conception phase of ILLIT.
A critical piece of evidence was a testimony from a HYBE employee, who revealed that ILLIT’s creative director requested the conceptual plans of NewJeans. According to the employee, shortly after receiving these plans, ILLIT’s concept began mirroring NewJeans almost exactly. This insider evidence, highlighted on pages 9 and 10 of Min Hee Jin’s submission, alleges that Belift Lab had been working with the intent to create a group that mimicked NewJeans in concept, style, and overall vision.
Key Statements from Min Hee Jin
Min Hee Jin expressed her shock and disappointment over Belift Lab’s ongoing denials of the plagiarism accusations. She stated:
“A HYBE internal employee revealed to me that ILLIT’s creative director asked for plans detailing the conception of NewJeans during the conception stages of ILLIT. The employee then revealed that, soon after, the conceptual plans for both groups became identical.”
Min Hee Jin continued, sharing how the HYBE employee was disillusioned with the situation, particularly the refusal of Belift Lab to acknowledge any wrongdoing:
“The employee couldn’t believe that Belift Lab was denying the plagiarism allegations and expressed their disdain about the situation.”
What’s Next for Min Hee Jin and ADOR?
This controversy comes at a time when HYBE is reportedly planning a general shareholders’ meeting to address the possibility of Min Hee Jin rejoining ADOR’s board of directors. Despite the ongoing dispute, HYBE had previously offered Min Hee Jin the option to continue as the producer for NewJeans, reflecting the importance of her role and creative input for the group.
The allegations have placed the entire ILLIT project under scrutiny, and fans and industry professionals are eagerly awaiting more developments as this case unfolds. Whether this will have lasting effects on Belift Lab’s reputation and the future of both groups remains to be seen.
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