Min Hee-jin Accuses ILLIT: Everything NewJeans’s?

On April 22nd, amidst the ongoing disagreement between HYBE and its subsidiary label ADOR over management rights, ADOR’s CEO Min Hee-jin released a statement. In her statement, she addressed the issue of HYBE’s recently debuted girl group ILLIT, which belongs to another subsidiary label, Belift Lab. According to Min Hee-jin, ILLIT has copied elements from ADOR’s artist NewJeans. She emphasized the importance of protecting NewJeans and the growth of Korea’s music industry and culture, stating that she is voicing her opinion on the matter.

Min Hee-jin strongly asserted that HYBE has infringed upon the cultural accomplishments of NewJeans, stating that ILLIT has imitated them in every aspect, from their hairstyles and makeup to their costumes, choreography, photos, videos, and even their appearances at events. She went on to express her concern that this imitation has tarnished the image of NewJeans and led to unnecessary controversies, causing distress and disappointment among fans and the general public.

Netizens responded to Min Hee-jin’s offensive comments labeling a new girl group as “copy”, expressing their dissatisfaction and highlighting the unfairness of labeling NewJeans’s culture as the “origin”with multiple pieces of evidence.

The concept of NewJeans was not original to Min Hee-jin, but rather inspired by the Y2K sensibility, a popular trend in the early 2000s. What made NewJeans successful was the skillful combination of Y2K elements with their own unique style. Min Hee-jin’s talent lies in her ability to revamp existing elements and give them a fresh and modern twist, rather than creating something entirely new.

The style known as “NewJeans’s style,”as described by Min Hee-jin, encompasses elements such as a refreshing and retro aesthetic, long hairstyles, easy-listening music, and attending luxury events. However, this style does not deviate greatly from the existing concepts and activities of other K-pop groups. As a result, Min Hee-jin’s perspective may leave K-pop fans feeling perplexed.

After the debut of ILLIT, many people initially compared the group to NewJeans based on their pre-debut concept photos. However, it became clear that ILLIT’s music, performances, and costumes set them apart from NewJeans.

Several media sources claimed that Min Hee-jin was furious upon hearing that HYBE’s new male group was being referred to as the “male version of NewJeans”. This sparked speculation among K-pop enthusiasts, with many questioning whether everything was now under NewJeans’s control. It should be noted that Min Hee-jin’s arguments were unrelated to the ongoing management rights dispute. As HYBE has already obtained internal documents through their audit, Min Hee-jin should address the management issues instead of targeting ILLIT.

The source of the information can be found at the following link: //news.nate.com/view/20240423n16409?mid=n1008.