New accusations are emerging in the ongoing dispute involving former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and HYBE regarding the alleged “plagiarism” by ILLIT of concepts originally associated with NewJeans. The issue resurfaced on November 11, following newly leaked debut plans for NewJeans and ILLIT, which raised concerns among fans and netizens alike.

Netizens Examine Similarities Between ILLIT and NewJeans Concepts

In the aftermath of the leaked debut plans, a compilation of alleged instances of “plagiarism” was shared on the Korean online forum theqoo, where fans highlighted apparent overlaps in aesthetic elements and design choices between NewJeans and ILLIT. This included similarities in:

• Font and typography styles used in NewJeans’ and ILLIT’s albums
• Use of stickers and hand-drawn-style elements in album designs
• Incorporation of 2D character animation in visual presentations
• Similar choreography and stage formations
• Layouts in YouTube descriptions
• Pre-debut sponsorship details
• Editorials and magazine shoots
• Chuseok holiday-themed photoshoots featuring group members

you can view all the photos here.

Images posted on the forum provided visual comparisons, leading to extensive commentary from netizens who debated whether the shared elements crossed the line into imitation or were simply part of common trends in K-pop design.

Netizens React to the Allegations

The discussion quickly gained momentum, with many commenters expressing frustration over the alleged lack of originality in ILLIT’s concept. Some netizens voiced strong reactions:

• They really have no sense of integrity…
• This is seriously too much… At this level, shouldn’t the people involved give up their paychecks? 😂 Like, are they even working?
• Copying the project plan is over the top—it’s basically a copy-paste job.
• As soon as people saw the choreography and teaser images, everyone was saying it looked like they were copying NewJeans. Since they’re a subsidiary, we just assumed it was for promotion or something, lol.
• It really gives off knock-off vibes.
• Leaving here knowing one thing: aesthetic sense just can’t be copied.
• Honestly, I couldn’t even tell them apart while scrolling, lol. I was going up and down the feed like, “Where’s the ILLIT picture?”—then realized, oh, it’s a different face.
• I think some overlap is understandable.
• It’s not like only NewJeans ever did all of that, you know?
• But when it overlaps this much, honestly, anyone can tell it’s just copying.

However, a few commenters were more cautious, suggesting that some similarities could be coincidental, as certain concepts and design choices are widespread in the K-pop industry.

Growing Tension Between ADOR and HYBE

The resurfacing of these accusations adds fuel to the ongoing tensions between ADOR and HYBE, with Min Hee Jin and HYBE in a legal dispute. While neither party has directly addressed the recent accusations, these latest allegations have contributed to the growing scrutiny around ILLIT’s debut strategy and creative direction.

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Source: theqoo