Min Hee-jin’s Legal War with ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM’s Agencies Begins, 1st Trial Today
On the 10th, the 12th Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Western District Court will hold the first trial of the defamation lawsuit filed by Belift Lab, the agency of girl group ILLIT, and Source Music, the agency of LE SSERAFIM, against Min Hee-jin.
Last May, Belift Lab filed a 2 billion won (approx 1.3 billion USD) damages lawsuit against Min Hee-jin. This was in response to Min Hee-jin’s previous claim that ILLIT plagiarized New Jeans.
Meanwhile, previously in July, Source Music filed a 500 million won (approx 342,000 USD) lawsuit against Min Hee-jin through the Seoul Western District Court. The agency allegedly took issue with Min Hee-jin’s allegations that she personally casted the NewJeans members, some of whom Source Music had neglected while they were under the company, and questioned why LE SSERAFIM debuted before NewJeans.
Regarding this, on November 21, 2024, a representative from Min Hee-jin’s side told media outlet Star News, “Source Music’s claims are absurd and false. We will respond with strong legal action.”
Additionally, Min Hee Jin’s side filed a countersuit against Belift Lab CEO Kim Tae-ho and his staff for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act in November of last year, demanding 5 billion won (approx. 3.4 million USD) in damages from Belift Lab.
You can get a more detailed read on all the lawsuit involving Min Hee-jin HERE.
Regarding this, Source Music refuted Min Hee-jin’s claims in detail, stating, “Her assertion that Source Music copied her launching strategy is false. Source Music never copied Min Hee-jin’s strategy nor acknowledged any of her complaints.”
The company added, “In May 2020, HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk suggested that the launching strategy proposed by Min Hee-jin, then CBO, should be implemented not through Team N, but through a ‘new team’ to be established under a label she would establish. Despite being fully aware of this context, Min is distorting the facts to make it seem as if Chairman Bang suggested that Min’s launching strategy be realized through Team N.”
Source Music emphasized, “Min Hee-jin continues to spread false information about Source Music. Beyond the damages lawsuit already filed against her, we plan to take strong legal action on this matter as well. If necessary, we are willing to disclose all evidence we possess to clarify the truth.”
Previously, Belift Lab filed this lawsuit in June, denying allegations that ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans’ planning proposal. Belift Lab stated, “ILLIT’s branding strategy and concept were finalized and internally shared on July 21, 2023. The so-called ‘planning proposal’ was sent by the informant later, on August 28, 2023, making it impossible for it to have influenced ILLIT’s concept.”
Regarding this, Min Hee-jin’s representative told Star News on November 18, “Despite detailed testimony from an internal whistleblower at HYBE and clear similarities, they are denying it and misleading public opinion. HYBE and Belift Lab are the ones spreading numerous falsehoods, obstructing business and committing defamation by bringing an issue that could have been resolved internally into the public.” The representative further criticized, “Rather than considering the harm caused to NewJeans, they are using rookie artists as a shield to claim obstruction of business. They need to reflect on who is truly responsible.”
During a preliminary injunction hearing held by the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 50 (Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon) regarding HYBE’s exercise of voting rights, Min Hee-jin claimed that “ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans” and disclosed testimony from a HYBE internal employee. According to the testimony, ILLIT’s creative director had received NewJeans’ planning documents during ILLIT’s planning phase, and the two concepts were reportedly identical. The whistleblower also stated, “I couldn’t imagine they would make it exactly the same.”
Meanwhile, on November 20, Min Hee-jin announced through her legal representative, “Today, I resign as an internal director of ADOR. I am also terminating the shareholder agreement with HYBE and will hold them legally accountable for breaching the agreement. Furthermore, I will take necessary legal actions one by one against HYBE and its affiliates for their numerous unlawful acts.” In response, ADOR released an official statement expressing regret over Min’s unilateral resignation notice, stating briefly, “We will do our best to support NewJeans so that they can grow and develop further.“
