HYBE COO Addresses National Assembly: “Claims of ILLIT Copying NewJeans and HYBE Coercing Album Sales Are False”

On the afternoon of October 24th, Kim testified during the Comprehensive National Assembly Inspection held by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, addressing the disputes involving HYBE and Belift Lab.

Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, alleges that her disagreements with HYBE escalated when she accused ILLIT of copying NewJeans. She claims that when she raised her concerns regarding the alleged plagiarism, HYBE initiated an audit to assert control over her management.

Belift Lab has consistently refuted the plagiarism allegations against ILLIT and has pursued criminal and civil actions against former CEO Min Hee-jin for both business interference and defamation. Kim reaffirmed the position that ILLIT did not engage in plagiarism, stating, “We have initiated civil litigation and criminal proceedings against Min Hee-jin, currently awaiting the court’s verdict.” He underscored that they are intent on clearing the matter through legal channels by presenting evidence to substantiate their claims.

Kim further dismissed allegations that HYBE had artificially inflated album sales through coercive practices.

Min Hyung-bae, a member of the Democratic Party, inquired whether HYBE had partaken in high-pressure sales tactics by offering albums under return conditions or through incentives like fan sign events and lucky polaroids. Kim responded, stating, “There are no conditions for returns,” but acknowledged, “Due to some complaints, we conducted internal checks. It was confirmed that albums sold in 2023 had a very low return eligibility. Nonetheless, we have never marketed albums with return conditions.”

Representative Min referenced a phrase from an email dated January 4, 2024, mentioning “planned return project,” to reinforce concerns that HYBE engaged in deceptive sales practices. In reply, Kim clarified, “Returns were processed for albums sold in January 2023, and we have put measures in place to prevent this in the future.”

He explained, “This was not an official company policy, but rather a choice made by certain employees. We have implemented protocols to avoid such practices, as they contradict our company guidelines,” highlighting that, “These actions did not occur on a scale that would disrupt the market or significantly alter our sales data.”

Recently, multiple events linked to HYBE have captured attention in the entertainment sphere. Kim concluded, “I acknowledge that the series of occurrences this year has led to considerable fatigue for many, and we are committed to preventing a recurrence. We genuinely apologize for the distress this has caused. We believe that the core mission of an entertainment company is to provide joy to fans and the public. Admittedly, there have been many regrettable incidents this year. We will diligently work to ensure such situations do not lead to fatigue in the future.”

Source: SpoTV News

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