Min Hee Jin and ADOR released a statement.
Since then, ADOR and Min Hee Jin have released a long statement against HYBE and Bang Si Hyuk to express their position.
” Good morning. This is ADOR (and CEO Min Hee Jin).
ADOR publicly addresses the incident of ILLIT’s copying of NewJeans to protect our artist NewJeans and for the healthy development of the music industry and culture in Korea.
HYBE operates a multi-label system allowing different labels to independently create their music and pursue cultural diversity. ADOR is one of these labels. Ironically, the cultural achievements of ADOR and our artist NewJeans are the most seriously violated by HYBE.
BELIFT LAB, one of HYBE’s labels, launched five-member girl group ILLIT in March this year. After ILLIT’s teaser photos were released, explosive reactions spread online saying, “I thought it was NewJeans.” » ILLIT copies NewJeans in all aspects of the entertainment business, including hair, makeup, clothing, choreography, photos, videos and event appearances. ILLIT is rated as “Min Hee Jin style,” “Min Hee Jin type,” and “a knockoff of NewJeans.” »
This is a truly shameful situation.
HYBE president Bang Si Hyuk produced ILLIT’s debut album. ILLIT’s copying of NewJeans was not done independently by BELIFT LAB but also involves HYBE. HYBE, a leading K-pop company, is blinded by short-term profits and mass-produces unoriginality by copying hit cultural contents without hesitation.
NewJeans is currently preparing its return in May. However, ILLIT caused NewJeans to appear even though they were not currently promoting. The appearance of an imitation has consumed NewJeans’ image and caused concern and fatigue among fans and the public due to unnecessary involvement in litigation. The main culprits that created this situation are HYBE and BELIFT LAB, but the damage caused by this rests entirely on ADOR and NewJeans.
There are reactions that it is understandable that ILLIT is similar to NewJeans as they are both under the HYBE label. Some even believe that ADOR and NewJeans allowed or consented to this similarity. But these reactions are clearly a misunderstanding and we wish to clarify this. A multi-label system is a system that allows each label to independently create the music they want, not a system that allows other labels to copy another label’s cultural achievements simply because they are labels affiliates.
And ADOR has never authorized or given consent to anyone, including HYBE and BELIFT LAB, to copy NewJeans’ achievements. ADOR does not in any way wish NewJeans and ILLIT to be associated. We do not intend to tolerate promotions such as groups being brother/sister groups simply because they debuted under the HYBE labels.
ADOR has already officially raised the issue of the copying incident and a series of behaviors adopted by HYBE against NewJeans with HYBE and BELIFT LAB. However, HYBE and BELIFT LAB have failed to acknowledge their wrongdoing and have been busy making excuses, thereby delaying concrete responses. Amid this, HYBE suddenly announced today (April 22, 2024) that it would suspend and remove CEO Min Hee Jin from her position, stating that there were “concerns that CEO Min Hee Jin could materially harm ADOR’s business value. »
At the same time, they manipulate the media with ridiculous articles, such as that of CEO Min Hee Jin “allegedly trying to seize management rights.” » It is incomprehensible that a legitimate complaint aimed at protecting the cultural achievements of our artist NewJeans could harm the interests of ADOR or that it could constitute an act of takeover of ADOR.
It seems that HYBE and BELIFT LAB as well as Chairman Bang Si Hyuk believe that simply kicking CEO Min Hee Jin out of the company will end this problem without issuing an apology or appropriate action. However, ADOR will use all possible means and methods to protect the cultural achievements that NewJeans has worked for and to prevent further infringement due to copying. We would like to clarify that we cannot tolerate the continuation of copying and various unfair actions against ADOR and NewJeans.
HYBE and BELIFT LAB may attempt to dilute the early incident by highlighting the differences between NewJeans and ILLIT as ILLIT’s activities increase. Fan and public misunderstandings can also increase over time. As a result, ADOR has decided to announce an official position after sufficient discussions with NewJeans members and legal representatives.
Through this statement, we hope that HYBE and BELIFT LAB will face their wrongdoings and contribute to the Korean music industry and culture through fervent contemplation and creation while respecting the cultural achievements of others.
THANKS. »
