In its statement, ADOR revealed that the issue between Min Hee Jin and HYBE stemmed from ILLIT’s alleged plagiarism of NewJeans. The rookie group has garnered comparisons to NewJeans’ aesthetic and sound since its inception.
This is ADOR Co, Ltd (hereinafter referred to as ADOR, and CEO Min Hee Jin).
In order to protect our agency artists New Jeans, as well as for the healthy development of our country’s music and culture industry, we will be making our official statement regarding the issue of ‘ILLIT copying NewJeans.’
HYBE is running a multi-label system, in order to let each label produce their own music independently, valuing cultural diversity. ADOR is one of such labels. But ironically, the cultural output that has been achieved by ADOR, and our company artist NewJeans, has been the most severely violated by HYBE.
One of the labels under HYBE, BeLift Lab, debuted ILLIT in March 2024, a 5-member girl group. After ILLIT’s teaser photos were released, there has been explosive reaction online that people thought ‘it was NewJeans.’ ILLIT’s hair, makeup, outfits, choreography, photos, videos, and even events, etc, all of their activity as celebrities have been copying NewJEans. There have been reviews that ILLIT is ‘Min Hee Jin’s style,’ ‘Min Hee Jin’s type,’ and ‘NewJeans’ style,’ etc. This can’t be something that they’re not embarrassed of.
— ADOR
ADOR then alleged that the allegations surrounding a Min Hee Jin coup were misinformation spread by HYBE. ADOR revealed that when they had expressed their objections with ILLIT, rather than discuss the issue, HYBE tried to fire Min Hee Jin.
Ador has expressed its objections to HYBE regarding Belift’s copying of NewJeans, as well as successive issues regarding HYBE’s treatment of NewJeans. But HYBE did not acknowledge Belift’s mistake, was busy making excuses, and bought time while putting off giving us an answer.Then today, on April 22, 2024, HYBE revealed that they are planning on taking steps to fire CEO Min Hee Jin, sparking concerns that HYBE is planning on destroying Ador’s value. At the same time, HYBE is attempting to use the media to tarnish Min Hee Jin’s name with ridiculous allegations of trying to steal from HYBE. How can protecting NewJeans’ cultural achievements equate to hurting Ador’s bottom line and mean that Min Hee Jin is trying to steal Ador’s executive rights? It seems that there is another motive that is hard to understand.HYBE and Belift Lab have not apologized for this incident. Instead, it seems they believe that this will all go away if Min Hee Jin is kicked out of Ador. Ador will exhaust all legal options to protect NewJeans’ cultural achievements and to protect the group from further plagiarism.There is a chance that HYBE and Belift will gather the differences between ILLIT and NewJeans and magnify them before their debut to bury this incident. As time passes, there is a chance that fans and the public’s misunderstanding will grow larger. Because of this, Ador has released this statement after discussing it with our lawyers and NewJeans. We hope that through this, HYBE and Belift will acknowledge their mistakes, respect the cultural achievements of others, and (rather than plagiarize) add to our nation’s entertainment industry through hard work and creativity.
— ADOR
Netizens reacted to the revelations with many expressing concern that this incident would dissolve into something reminscent of FIFTY FIFTY’s scandal.
“You can’t deny that ILLIT and NewJeans are similar. We would always say in this community that they were similar AF. But that doesn’t mean what she did is right.”
“I don’t understand. Why is she digging a hole for herself? I feel bad for NewJeans, too.”
“I think we are going to need to wait to see how this develops before passing judgement. I hope that NewJeans stay with them, even if it is due to contractual obligations. The group has 2 minors and are rookies, so I don’t see how they agreed to the statement above.”
“Is this FIFTY FIFTY 2?”
“NewFTY NewFTY, cool.”
“What a pity. The group is imploding because of the member’s greed.”
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