The gloves are off between popular Korean agency HYBE and its own label, ADOR, which manages new group NewJeans. 

ADOR is revolting against HYBE, accusing that HYBE and Belift Lab's new girl group, ILLIT, which debuted March, of copying girl group NewJeans. 

ADOR, headed by CEO Min Hee-jin, a former creative director at SM Entertainment, issued a statement after news reports stated that it is being audited by HYBE after allegations surfaced that its management was planning a takeover attempt of ADOR. 

NewJeans (X)

ILLIT (X)

HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk (left) and ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin (HYBE)

HYBE owns 80 percent of ADOR while 18 percent is held by Min Hee-jin and the remaining 2 percent is held by ADOR management.

In response to HYBE, ADOR issued a statement, saying ILLIT, launched by HYBE and Belift Lab in March, is an imitation of NewJeans. 

“HYBE operates a multi-label system so that several labels can independently create their own music and pursue cultural diversity through this. ADOR is one of those labels. However, ironically, the cultural achievements achieved by ADOR and its artist NewJeans are being most seriously violated by HYBE,” ADOR claimed. 

It added, “Belift Lab, one of HYBE’s labels, debuted the 5-member female idol group ILLIT in March of this year. After ILLIT’s teaser photo was released, reactions such as 'I thought it was NewJeans' flooded the online world.”

“ILLIT is copying NewJeans in all areas of entertainment activities, including hair, makeup, costumes, choreography, photography, video, and event appearances,” it said. 

ADOR said, “This is truly shameful. HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si-hyuk produced ILLIT’s debut album. ILLIT’s copy of NewJeans was not done by the label Belift Lab alone, but HYBE was also involved.”

“HYBE, a leading company in K-pop, is blinded by short-term profits and copies successful cultural content without any hesitation, producing banality rather than showing newness,” it said. 

It added, “The appearance of an imitation damaged NewJeans' image, and it became the subject of unnecessary controversy, causing concern and fatigue to fans and the public. The culprits who created this situation are HYBE and Belift Lab, but the damage caused by it is entirely the responsibility of ADOR and NewJeans.” .

“There is a response that it is understandable that ILLIT is similar to NewJeans since they are labels under HYBE. There is even a reaction that ADOR and NewJeans would have allowed or understood this similarity. However, these reactions are clearly a misunderstanding, and we would like to correct this,” said ADOR. 

It said, “And ADOR has never permitted or consented to copying NewJeans’ achievements to anyone, including HYBE and Belift Lab. ADOR does not want NewJeans and ILLIT to be associated in any way.”

“ADOR has already raised an official issue with HYBE and Belift Lab regarding not only this copying incident but also a series of actions taken by HYBE toward NewJeans, including this. However, HYBE and Belift Lab did not admit their mistake, but were busy making excuses, and were taking time by delaying providing a specific answer,” it claimed. 

According to ADOR, HYBE suddenly notified on April 22 “that it would take steps to suspend and dismiss Min Hee-jin as CEO, citing concerns that CEO Min Hee-jin would significantly damage ADOR’s corporate value.”

“At the same time, the media is trying to play with absurd content, such as saying that CEO Min Hee-jin 'attempted to seize management rights.' How can a legitimate protest to protect the cultural achievements of its artist, NewJeans, harm the interests of ADOR, or how can it become an act of usurping ADOR’s management rights? It is something that cannot be understood through common sense,” it said. 

ADOR claimed that "HYBE, Belift Lab, and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk did not make a proper apology or prepare countermeasures for this incident, but they seem to think that it will end if they simply kick out CEO Min Hee-jin from the company. But ADOR has no intention of backing down.”

“ADOR will use all possible means and methods to protect the cultural achievements that NewJeans has achieved and prevent further infringement due to copying. ADOR would like to make it clear that it cannot afford to sit idly by and watch the various unfair practices that continue against ADOR and NewJeans, including copying,” it said. 

It said, “Accordingly, ADOR announced an official position after sufficient discussion with NewJeans members and legal representatives.”