Min Hee Jin Releases Full Statement Regarding ADOR’s Feud With HYBE
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.
It was previously reported that HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin are currently in the midst of a power struggle. Min Hee Jin had allegedly been trying to usurp management rights to ADOR from HYBE, leading to HYBE launching an audit against her and the current management board.
Min Hee Jin has since released an interview with Hankyung, where she cites “ILLIT’s plagiarism” of NewJeans as a reason for stepping up against HYBE.
Min Hee Jin Names ILLIT’s Plagiarism Of NewJeans As Reason For Her Feud With HYBE
She has since released a full statement regarding the matter. Min Hee Jin delves into the plagiarism that ILLIT has been accused of.
This is ADOR Co, Ltd (hereinafter referred to as ADOR and CEO Min Hee Jin).
In order to protect the artist under management, NewJeans, as well as for the healthy development of Korea’s music and culture industry, we will be making our official statement regarding the issue of ‘ILLIT copying NewJeans.’
HYBE is running a multi-label system in order to let each label produce their own music independently, valuing cultural diversity. ADOR is one such label. But ironically, the cultural output that has been achieved by ADOR and its artist, NewJeans, has been most severely violated by HYBE.
One of the labels under HYBE, BeLift Lab, debuted ILLIT, a 5-member girl group, in March 2024. After ILLIT’s teaser photos were released, there was an explosive reaction online, with people who thought ‘it was NewJeans.’ ILLIT’s hair and makeup styles, outfits, choreographies, photos, videos, public events, etc. have been copying NewJeans. There have been reviews claiming that ILLIT is ‘Min Hee Jin’s style,’ ‘Min Hee Jin’s type,’ and even a ‘NewJeans subtype.’ This can’t be something that they’re not embarrassed about.
— ADOR
She blames not just BeLift Lab, but also HYBE and its head honcho, Bang Si Hyuk.
HYBE’s Bang Si Hyuk took part in the production of ILLIT’s debut album. ILLIT’s imitation of NewJeans was not carried out by BeLift Lab alone as a label, but is something that concerns HYBE as well. As a leading company in K-Pop, HYBE has been blinded by profits, and are copying successful cultural content without any hesitation. Rather than showing something new, they are simply producing banality.
NewJeans is currently preparing for a comeback in May. But ILLIT’s debut has brought up NewJeans during a time when they are not promoting. Thanks to the appearance of a subtype group, NewJeans’ reputation has been expended, and the members have been dragged into needless debates, being used as topics amongst fans and the public who, then, felt both concerned and exhausted from the continued talk. The people who made this happen, HYBE and BeLift Lab, are profiting off of it, but the ones who are suffering damages are ADOR and NewJeans.
There have been opinions that since we are both labels under HYBE, similarities between NewJeans and ILLIT are reasonable. In fact, some felt that ADOR and NewJeans agreed to the imitation. I am setting things straight as these reactions are outright misunderstandings. Under a multi-label structure, each label can produce the music that they want independently, and just because two labels fall under the same umbrella, it does not give one the right to copy another’s cultural output.
And ADOR has never allowed anyone, be it HYBE, BeLift Lab, or other labels, to copy NewJeans’ output. ADOR does not want ILLIT and NewJeans to be linked in any way at all. We have no intention of allowing anyone to promote themselves using phrases like ‘NewJeans’ dongsaeng group,’ just because the groups debuted under the HYBE umbrella.
— ADOR
Lastly, she announced the label’s upcoming plans to deal with the matter.
ADOR has expressed its objections to HYBE regarding BeLift Lab copying NewJeans, as well as successive issues regarding HYBE’s treatment of NewJeans. But HYBE did not acknowledge BeLift Lab’s mistake, was busy making excuses, and bought time while putting off giving us an answer.
Then today, on April 22, 2024, HYBE revealed that they are planning on taking steps to fire CEO Min Hee Jin, sparking concerns that HYBE is planning on destroying ADOR’s value. At the same time, HYBE is attempting to use the media to tarnish Min Hee Jin’s name with ridiculous allegations of her trying to steal from HYBE. How can protecting NewJeans’ cultural achievements equate to hurting ADOR’s values and mean that Min Hee Jin is trying to steal ADOR’s executive rights? It seems that there is another motive that is hard to understand.
HYBE and BeLift Lab have not apologized for this incident. Meanwhile, it seems they believe that they can put an end to the whole situation by kicking Min Hee Jin out of ADOR. ADOR will exhaust all legal options to protect NewJeans’ cultural achievements and to protect the group from further plagiarism.
There is a chance that HYBE and BeLift Lab will gather ‘evidence’ amplifying only the differences between ILLIT and NewJeans, rather than focusing on what happened at debut, in order to downplay this incident. As time passes, there is a chance that fans and the public’s misunderstanding will grow larger. Therefore, ADOR has opted to release this statement at this time, after discussing it with our lawyers and NewJeans. We hope that, through this, HYBE and BeLift Lab will acknowledge their mistakes, respect the cultural achievements of others, and (rather than plagiarize) add to Korea’s entertainment industry through hard work and creativity.
Thank you.
— ADOR
The matter has become a full-blown case, following HYBE’s audit of Min Hee Jin’s plans to fight for ADOR’s independence.
