A new report from TenAsia about the ongoing legal dispute between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and Belift Lab has created a stir, with many online accusing Min of using plagiarism claims solely to influence public opinion. This controversy stems from Min’s viral accusations that the concept behind ILLIT, a group produced by HYBE, was a copy of her conceptual plans for NewJeans.
Court Hearing Highlights
During the latest hearing on October 11, Min Hee Jin submitted court documents showing evidence that HYBE had allegedly formulated ILLIT’s debut concept based on her original ideas for NewJeans. According to her, a HYBE employee shared these conceptual plans with ILLIT’s creative director, unaware that Belift Lab would use them to create an identical plan.
“The employee couldn’t believe that Belift Lab was denying the plagiarism allegations and expressed their disdain about the situation,” said Min Hee Jin during the hearing.
The employee’s statement appeared to back Min’s claim that ILLIT’s entire concept was a result of plagiarism from NewJeans’ plans.
TenAsia Report and Netizens’ Reactions
Following the hearing, TenAsia published a controversial article titled “What did ILLIT do wrong… Min Hee Jin addresses ILLIT plagiarism issue, stating, ‘I’m not interested in punishing HYBE. The goal was to create a buzz.’” The article has since faced heavy criticism, with many calling it biased and accusing it of being part of HYBE’s media strategy to promote ILLIT.
The TenAsia report also claimed that Min Hee Jin had received prior legal advice that it would be difficult to substantiate the plagiarism allegations in court. Despite this, she reportedly raised the issue publicly to influence public perception. This revelation fueled suspicions that Min’s main objective was to generate buzz rather than seek legal retribution.
Are we doing this to correct HYBE? HYBE’s punishment (or improvement) is something I don’t care about (the phrase means ‘I didn’t ask, and I’m not curious’). Our goal was never about improvement.
We’re just filing a complaint, and the moms will immediately pressure the Fair Trade Commission for quick results. Whether the FTC investigates or not, the issue will spread like wildfire in the meantime, and the world will be turned upside down.
— Min Hee Jin
Netizens’ Criticism Intensifies
The article’s focus on ILLIT’s upcoming mini-album release has sparked further backlash, with netizens claiming the article was nothing more than promotional content for the group. Many questioned the article’s motives, pointing out how NewJeans had done nothing wrong in this entire situation.
Here are some of the comments from TheQoo:
“What did NewJeans ever do wrong, you bastards? Look at the pathetic way these articles are written.”
“Stop with the nitpicking, for real. With proof of ILLIT being a knockoff already out, the ones who really deserve sympathy are NewJeans and the Bunnies, who were happily enjoying their fandom.”
“‘They’re making a comeback on the 21st with their mini-album I’ll Like You.’ LOL, this promotional article is so weird.”
“Isn’t that all from April, when they dug through KakaoTalk messages themselves? How long is HYBE going to keep milking those?”
“Is this from TenAsia again?”
“What the hell are you idiots at TenAsia even saying.”
“So why were they even looking at another company’s planning documents in the first place? Does that make sense to anyone? Lol”
The debate continues to divide fans and the K-pop community. While some sympathize with Min’s stance, others believe that HYBE and ILLIT are being unfairly targeted as part of a publicity stunt.
This legal battle is far from over, and both sides are standing firm in their positions. While Min Hee Jin has presented strong allegations of plagiarism, the controversy around how the claims were handled in the media has added fuel to the fire. The public’s response shows a mix of support and skepticism about the entire situation.
ILLIT is set to make their comeback on October 21 with their mini-album I’ll Like You. Whether this will be impacted by the ongoing dispute remains to be seen.
Keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to let you know the latest developments about Min Hee Jin’s accusations and the HYBE vs. Belift Lab legal battle.
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