JTBC’s CP has officially refuted Min Hee Jin’s claim that HYBE sent ILLIT to interfere with NewJeans’ comeback.
On May 17, the 50th civil settlement division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Sang Hoon Kim) held a hearing for the preliminary injunction filed by ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin against HYBE’s exercise of voting rights.
During the interrogation, ADOR’s side argued that HYBE deliberately utilized ILLIT to disrupt NewJeans’ operations.
Min stated:
“Although ILLIT’s album activities have already ended, they are still appearing on an entertainment program to coincide with NewJeans’ comeback.”
Specifically, NewJeans has announced that on May 24, they will be releasing their highly anticipated EP, “How Sweet.”This EP will include the eponymous title track as well as a b-side track, “Bubble Gum,”which was previously released in April.
On May 25, just one day after its senior sister group’s release, ILLIT announced that it would be appearing as a guest on JTBC’s “Knowing Bros”.
Fans and netizens found this occurrence to be “strange”and “too coincidental”, especially since ILLIT had already concluded their album promotion.
Despite it being common for artists under the same label to have conflicting schedules, internet users suggested that this particular situation was unique as the two groups were clearly being pulled into the conflict.
Min Cheol Gi, the CP of JTBC’s “Knowing Bros”, made the decision to stand up for ILLIT on the same day and denied the accusation that the group was purposely invited to the show to overshadow NewJeans.
Based on Min CP’s statement, entertainment programs typically plan and schedule their recruitment and appearances at least two months ahead of time. ILLIT had already been in talks for a guest appearance since their debut in March, but due to issues with JTBC, their initial date was rescheduled to May 16th. Eventually, after the local government made a decision, their broadcast date was finalized for the 25th.
According to the Official Statement released by JTBC’s Knowing Bros:
“In the case of ‘Knowing Bros,’ we often invite guests when there is outdoor filming. In a recent recording held at a camping site in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, YG Entertainment’s new group BABYMONSTER appeared.
Generally, top stars are filmed according to their activity periods, but since ILLIT is a rookie, the production team did not adjust the activity period. We couldn’t get it right. With the understanding of ILLIT, we conducted outdoor recording on Jebudo Island, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do on May 16th.
The broadcast date is the date desired by the local government. Generally, in the case of outdoor filming, the official broadcast is aired on the date specified by the local government that cooperated with the filming, but it is said that Hwaseong City wanted it to be broadcast on May 25th.”
Min CP summed up:
“The production team had no idea when NewJeans would make a comeback. The timing is odd due to the conflict between the two sides, but there is no reason for ‘Knowing Bros’ to be caught up in this incident.”
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