It was previously reported that HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin are currently in the midst of a power struggle. Min Hee Jin had allegedly been trying to usurp management rights to ADOR from HYBE, leading to HYBE launching an audit against her and the current board of management. Min Hee Jin has since released an interview with Hankyung, where she claims ILLIT’s plagiarism of NewJeans as a reason for her stepping up against HYBE.

Although Min Hee Jin expressed that her feud with HYBE began when they participated and allowed in the plagiarism and subsequent cannibalism of NewJeans by a labelmate, netizens are not convinced by her argument.

• Honestly, I personally also thought it was too similar.
• Honestly, it was too similar. They don’t have a conscience.
• If I didn’t know about it, and heard their song outside, I would’ve thought that NewJeans made a comeback. There were also photos where I thought that they were NewJeans. But despite that, this is kinda not it.
• From a non K-Pop fan POV, they really are so similar that I thought ‘what’s up with this?’ LOL.
• Is this rowing when the water is in? I think that this is a different matter from her betrayal. Why this all of a sudden?
• What’s this?
• Save NewJeans. What mess is this?
• Her argument is illogical.

Many others similarly feel that while there are similar points between the two groups, NewJeans’ music as easy-listening pieces are not largely differential in the beginning. On the other hand, many other companies also take references from different groups or aesthetics, leading to netizens being unconvinced about Min Hee Jin’s statement.