The legal battle over allegations of plagiarism between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and Belift Lab, the agency behind ILLIT, will see its first court hearing on January 10, 2025. 

According to legal sources, the 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court will handle the initial arguments in the damages lawsuit filed by Belift Lab against Min Hee Jin, with the claimed damages amounting to a notable 2 billion KRW (approximately $1,431,600 USD).

Belift Lab initially filed this lawsuit in June, refuting claims that ILLIT had plagiarized the concept plans for NewJeans. They stated, “ILLIT’s branding strategy and concept were finalized and shared internally on July 21, 2023, while the so-called ‘planning document’ sent by the informant arrived later, on August 28, 2023, making it impossible for it to influence ILLIT’s concept.”

Min Hee Jin’s team, however, raised plagiarism allegations during a hearing for an injunction lawsuit involving HYBE’s voting rights at the Seoul Central District Court, presenting testimony from a HYBE employee. The informant alleged that ILLIT’s creative director had received NewJeans’ planning documents during ILLIT’s conceptualization phase and noted similarities between the two groups’ plans, reportedly stating, “I never imagined they would copy it so blatantly.”

Belift Lab has since filed additional complaints against Min Hee Jin, accusing her of business interference and defamation. They stated, “Min Hee Jin has used an innocent rookie group as a scapegoat for her personal gain. Her claims of plagiarism not only harm the entertainment industry but also distort professional matters to suit her narrative. If such actions go unchecked, they will severely hinder creators’ freedom to innovate.”

In response, Min Hee Jin held a press conference on April 25, reiterating her concerns about the similarities between NewJeans and ILLIT. She commented, “This benefits no one—it even damages ILLIT. If this continues, everything will become NewJeans. I’m not attacking ILLIT; the problem lies with the adults involved.”

Belift Lab’s CEO Kim Tae Ho countered her claims, criticizing her public statements. He remarked, “If someone truly believed ‘the artists did nothing wrong,’ they wouldn’t bring them up unnecessarily. Such comments effectively direct criticism and harassment toward ILLIT, especially from fans aligned with her views. It’s deeply disappointing to see such behavior from someone who has worked in this industry for so long. It’s difficult to forgive such baseless claims driven by personal ambition.”