Belift Lab, the agency of K-pop girl group ILLIT, has a complaint against NewJeans’ CEO Min Hee-jin of ADOR for defamation and obstruction of business.
Belift Lab and ADOR are under HYBE. However, the relationship between HYBE and ADOR soured after Min Hee-jin accused ILLIT of plagiarizing NewJeans.
K-pop girl groups ILLIT (top) and NewJeans (Belift Lab, ADOR)
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin (HYBE, ADOR)
HYBE owns 80 percent of the total shares in ADOR while Min Hee-jin owns 18 percent.
In a statement issued on May 22, Belift Lab said, “Today (May 22), we filed a complaint alleging obstruction of business and defamation against CEO Min Hee-jin, who is causing damage by claiming unilaterally false information against the company and its artists.”
“Regarding CEO Min's allegations of plagiarism against our company's artist ILLIT, we would like to clearly state that this is not true. We have submitted evidence to the judicial authorities to prove that the suspicions are not true, and although it may take some time, we will determine right from wrong according to legal procedures,” it said.
Belift Lab added, “Plagiarism of intellectual property is a matter that must be judged according to reasonable standards and procedures rather than an individual's one-sided and distorted interpretation. Nevertheless, we express regret at the situation in which the efforts and achievements of our artists and members are being disparaged due to reckless speculation and false information.”
“In addition, although the nature of this issue has nothing to do with ILLIT, ILLIT members are suffering from a serious level of malicious comments, ridicule, and personal attacks. We earnestly ask you to stop slanderous attacks such as reckless insults, malicious slander, spread of false information, and defamation of artists.We will do our best to protect our artists and members,” said Belift Lab.
Last month, HYBE reported Min Hee-jin to the police for breach of trust after it alleged that she attempted to seize management control of ADOR.
It added, “HYBE secured substantial evidence to prove that Min deliberately led the plan to take over management control of the subsidiary, through the audit process.”
“The evidence included detailed discussions that Min has ordered the ADOR management to find ways to pressure HYBE into ultimately selling ADOR's shares. One of the audited parties submitted information assets to seize the management of ADOR and to attempt to contact external investors. The auditee also admitted to creating the documents to attack HYBE,” HYBE said.