HYBE’s subsidiary, BELIFT LAB, announced today (May 22) that they have filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin, the head of the agency ADOR, for obstructing business and damaging reputation.
Last month, HYBE accused Min Hee-jin of seizing control of the company under the pretext of ADOR’s operation, and then Min Hee-jin held a press conference claiming that BELIFT LAB’s girl group, ILLIT, was created by plagiarizing the concept of ADOR’s NewJeans girl group.
In response, BELIFT LAB issued a statement today, stating: “Today, BELIFT LAB has filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin for obstructing business and damaging reputation by unilaterally asserting false facts and harming our company and our artists. We want to make it clear that Min Hee-jin’s allegations of plagiarism against our artist ILLIT are not true. We have submitted evidence to the judicial authorities to prove that the allegations of plagiarism are unfounded, and we will pursue the truth in accordance with legal procedures, even if it takes time.”
BELIFT LAB continued, “The question of intellectual property theft should not be judged based on individual, distorted interpretations but should be assessed according to reasonable standards and procedures. However, indiscriminate speculation and false facts diminish the efforts and achievements of our artists and staff, and we deeply regret this.”
In closing, BELIFT LAB wrote in their statement: “The essence of this incident has nothing to do with ILLIT, but the members of ILLIT are suffering greatly from severe mockery and personal attacks. We sincerely hope that everyone will stop the indiscriminate insults, malicious slander, spreading of false information, and damaging reputations against the artists. Our company will do its utmost to protect the artists and members. Thank you.”