According To Min Hee Jin, ‘Copying NewJeans Is The Root Of Dispute With Bang Si Hyuk’

In an exclusive interview with Korea Economic Daily, Ador CEO Min Hee-jin said, “The allegations that we are trying to take over the management are completely untrue.” She blames it on’subsidiary plagiarism disputes,’ accusing another Hybe label’s new girl group ILLIT of mimicking NewJeans.

Min accused Believe Lab, a Hybe label, of plagiarism on April 22, stating that Hybe overlooked Believe Lab’s apparent copying of NewJeans and began an audit. After auditioning for JTBC, Believe Lab introduced its new female group ILLIT last month with Bang Si-hyuk, Hybe’s chairman, producing their debut album. Due to their identity, style, dance, and music videos, which resemble NewJeans, ILLIT has been in the spotlight since their debut.
Min said, “Ironically, the cultural achievements of NewJeans are being seriously infringed upon by Hybe, the very entity that should have prevented it.” Hybe is accused of imitating successful cultural content for short-term income, as Believe Lab and ILLIT replicate NewJeans. “Ador has never allowed or condoned anyone to copy NewJeans’ achievements,” she said.

Min and the Ador administration have repeatedly asked Hybe and Believe Lab to fix the problem, but they have failed. Last Monday, they formally sought Hybe to admit their labels’ copying, which they say undermines NewJeans’ brand value.

Min Hee-jin also revealed that Hybe abruptly informed her of their plan to suspend and fire her as CEO today, claiming that her valid criticisms of NewJeans’ achievements will jeopardize Ador. “It is incomprehensible how protecting our artist’s achievements could possibly be detrimental to Ador,” cried.

Ador’s official statement on the ‘ILLIT NewJeans Copy Controversy’:

Hello,

The CEO of Ador Inc. is Min Hee-jin.

Ador officially addresses the ‘ILLIT NewJeans Copy Controversy’ to safeguard our artist and promote our country’s music and cultural business.

Ador and its artist NewJeans have strangely suffered the most from Hybe’s infringements despite their multi-label arrangement. After Hybe’s label Believe Lab released the female group ILLIT, their teaser photographs and activities in hair, cosmetics, dress, dance, and media appearances prompted to online remarks comparing them to NewJeans.

Bang Si-hyuk, who produced ILLIT’s debut album, compounded this awful scenario. Believe Lab and Hybe deliberately resemble ILLIT and NewJeans instead of respecting others’ cultural achievements in search of short-term profits.

Ador has not permitted Hybe or Believe Lab to duplicate NewJeans’ success, nor do we want NewJeans to be affiliated with ILLIT. We refuse to accept promotions that imply an affiliation just because they share a corporate umbrella.

Ador has discussed these issues with Hybe and Believe Lab, but they have delayed responding and not acknowledged their mistakes.

Given these ongoing concerns, Ador will take all measures to avoid further infringements and protect NewJeans’ creative achievements. We will fight unfair practices against Ador and NewJeans.

By clarifying our viewpoint, we hope Hybe and Believe Lab would own their mistakes and contribute to our country’s music and culture industry with intelligent and innovative creation.

Thank you.