Belift Lab Seeks ₩2 Billion in Damages from Min Hee-jin Over Alleged False Accusations Affecting ILLIT’s Album Sales and Advertising Partnerships

Legal Proceedings Initiated by Belift Lab Against Min Hee-jin

On January 10, the Seoul Western District Court convened for the inaugural hearing in a high-stakes case where Belift Lab is pursuing a ₩2 billion damage claim against industry figure Min Hee-jin.

Background of the Dispute

Belift Lab accuses Min Hee-jin of making misleading statements during various press interactions, alleging that she accused the group ILLIT of mimicking the thematic essence of their successful act, NewJeans. According to Belift Lab, such assertions have adversely affected ILLIT’s social media presence, decreased album sales, and jeopardized existing advertising contracts, culminating in estimated losses of ₩2 billion.

Arguments Presented in Court

During the proceedings, the judge briefly outlined the key points of Belift Lab’s argument:

ILLIT’s branding distinctively emphasizes real teenagers, differentiating it from NewJeans’ nostalgia-driven Y2K theme.
Belift Lab claims there was no prior communication or exchange of creative ideas between the two groups.
They assert that Min Hee-jin’s public declarations amounted to defamatory statements, resulting in considerable financial harm.

In contrast, Min Hee-jin contends that her comments were not fabricated but rather reflective opinions aimed at guiding public discourse. She maintains that there was no malicious intent behind her statements towards Belift Lab’s operations.

Previous Accusations and Counteractions

In April of the previous year, Min Hee-jin made headlines by accusing ILLIT of appropriating the NewJeans aesthetic, specifically noting that early reactions to ILLIT’s teaser images suggested notable resemblances to NewJeans’ branding. However, Belift Lab has firmly countered these claims, revealing that ILLIT’s concept was finalized in July 2023, well before any proposals related to Min Hee-jin’s allegations were put forward in late August 2023.

In a turn of events following the allegations, Belift Lab filed a defamation lawsuit against Min Hee-jin. She retaliated by bringing forth a defamation claim against Belift Lab’s CEO under the Information and Communications Network Act, seeking ₩5 billion in damages.

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