Korean Netizens Accuse ILLIT Of Plagarizing NewJeans’ Unique Hanbok Photoshoot

This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.

There is currently an ongoing feud between ADOR‘s Min Hee Jin and HYBE. Min Hee Jin held a press conference on April 25, 2024, where she explained her side of the story. One thing that she brought up was how HYBE copied her formula for NewJeans after seeing her succeed with the group.

This has been a sore topic for many fans since ILLIT‘s pre-debut era. Many felt that they were indistinguishable in terms of style and concept. There has also been talk about ILLIT copying NewJeans’ iconic choreography. Another instance that Min Hee Jin brought up was the groups’ hanbok shoots. While hanbok shoots are not uncommon, NewJeans was the first group to do this style of shoot.

Prior to NewJeans, most idol groups’ hanbok shoots looked like the below.

Most are simply taken in studios, as hanbok photos were meant to be a New Year’s treat for fans instead of a whole promotional project.

Min Hee Jin was the first to do a location shoot.

NewJeans’ hanbok shoot was a hot topic for its high quality and refreshingly dreamy concept.

Many praised them for looking like princesses during play time.

In February 2024, ILLIT released their version of the hanbok shoot. They also went to a similar location. Netizens couldn’t help but feel they had similar poses, vibes, and concepts.

Even the color scheme and filters of the photos were the same.

It was after seeing these that netizens began to stand on Min Hee Jin’s side.

Netizens criticized ILLIT’s team for copying NewJeans’ hanbok shoot.

• It’s CTRL+C, CTRL+V.
• They’re such thugs.
• Thugs don’t know where to draw the line.
• I would be annoyed too, if I were her.
• Wow, they’re just doing it blatantly.
• People were saying they didn’t plagiarize because it’s just Lolita-style clothing, but there’s so much more that’s exactly the same apart from that…
• TF is up with ILLIT, really.
• There was no other existing group that took a hanbok shoot using such a color scheme and using that cinematography. But they just copied it, making it look more obvious.

Although you may say that hanboks are a common concept due to it being Korea’s traditional outfit, the likeness of the two shoots are definitely visible to the eye. Many have commented that when you simply look at the photos as a group, they are unable to distinguish which photos belong to which group.

Check it out for yourself here.

Min Hee Jin has also stated that she blames the company, not the girls of ILLIT. You can read more on that below.

ADOR’s Min Hee Jin Claims ILLIT Isn’t The “Problem” When It Comes To Them “Copying” NewJeans