Legal Battle Heats Up: BELIFT LAB Accuses Former ADOR CEO of Plagiarism Claims Against ILLIT

In a recent court hearing, BELIFT LAB has firmly denied allegations made by former ADOR CEO, Min Hee-jin, accusing the group ILLIT of plagiarizing NewJeans. The lawsuit, filed by BELIFT LAB, claims that Min's accusations are baseless and have caused undue harm to the young members of ILLIT. BELIFT LAB argues that the concept and branding of ILLIT were finalized before any alleged influence could have occurred, emphasizing the importance of rectifying the damage done to the group's reputation.

During the hearing, BELIFT LAB's legal representatives dismissed claims of choreography similarity as unfounded, comparing it to the basic movements in Taekwondo patterns that are inherently similar. They criticized the act of targeting emerging groups as a promotional strategy, labeling it as malicious.

In response, Min Hee-jin's legal team maintained that their objections were made in the public interest and not intended as defamation. They highlighted the timing of ILLIT's debut following NewJeans' as a basis for the plagiarism suspicions raised by the public.

This legal confrontation stems from a press conference held by Min Hee-jin last April, where she accused BELIFT LAB of copying NewJeans' concept in the planning of ILLIT. BELIFT LAB has since filed a lawsuit against Min for defamation, seeking 20 billion won in damages, while Min has countersued BELIFT LAB's CEO and staff for defamation, demanding 5 billion won in compensation.