• Source:JND
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Hybe Corporation is one of the biggest South Korean entertainment companies and has several subsidiaries including Big Hit Music, Belift Lab, and ADOR, among others. Hybe Label has now come under controversy after ADOR's CEO Min Hee-jin accused Belift Lab's girl group Illit of copying NewJeans, formed under her direction. In an official statement, she claimed that Bang Si-hyuk, founder of Hybe Label, oversaw the production of ILLIT’s debut album and copied NewJeans.

The official statement by Min Hee Jin reads, "Hello, This is Ador Inc. (hereafter ‘Ador’, CEO Min Hee-jin). Ador publicly states our position on the 'ILLIT NewJeans Copy Controversy' to protect our artist NewJeans and for the healthy development of our country’s music and cultural industry. Despite operating under a multi-label system where each label independently produces its music, Ador and its artist NewJeans have ironically faced the most severe infringements by Hybe. After the debut of the girl group ILLIT by Believe Lab, one of Hybe’s labels, their teaser photos and overall activities in various entertainment sectors such as hair, makeup, clothing, choreography, and media appearances have led to rampant online comments confusing them with NewJeans."

 
 
 
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A post shared by ILLIT 아일릿 (@illit_official)

She added, "Despite operating under a multi-label system where each label independently produces its music, Ador and its artist NewJeans have ironically faced the most severe infringements by Hybe. After the debut of the girl group ILLIT by Believe Lab, one of Hybe’s labels, their teaser photos and overall activities in various entertainment sectors such as hair, makeup, clothing, choreography, and media appearances have led to rampant online comments confusing them with NewJeans. This shameful situation has been exacerbated by Bang Si-hyuk, who oversaw the production of ILLIT’s debut album. The similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans are not just incidental but are a calculated move by Believe Lab and Hybe, driven by a disregard for the hard-earned cultural achievements of others in pursuit of mundane and short-lived gains."

 
 
 
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A post shared by NewJeans (@newjeans_official)

"We hope that by making our position clear, Hybe and Believe Lab will recognize their mistakes and contribute positively to our country’s music and cultural industry through thoughtful and original creation in the future. Thank you," she concluded.

Illit was also involved in a controversy over its fandom name 'Lilly'. The name was similar to BLACKPINK member Lisa's solo fandom called 'Lillies'. Later, Belift Lab issued a statement and said that they would change the name.