During the “2024 DaVinci MOTEL” event on September 27, Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR, made an unexpected appearance by showcasing an unreleased demo by NewJeans. The track, titled “NJ1 Demo,” featured captivating beats that immediately attracted fan interest, but it also sparked a wave of controversy. The online community quickly began to draw comparisons between the demo’s rhythmic elements and those found in “IYKYK,” a song released by ILLIT on October 24.
Min Hee Jin reportedly indicated that the beat for the NewJeans demo was developed two years earlier, leading some fans to speculate about potential misuse of the composition by ILLIT. The timing of this revelation, along with the active discussions online, has sparked concerns about possible copyright violations and questions of artistic integrity within the music scene.
While these allegations remain unconfirmed, leaked documents from Min have historically implied that HYBE has set benchmarks or intervened with other K-Pop acts. This has led many to speculate that the beats featured in the NewJeans demo may have been appropriated and handed over to ILLIT, reinforcing the idea that Min Hee Jin’s choice to unveil the demo could subtly call attention to potential plagiarism.
The unfolding drama has incited extensive debates among fans over the issues of originality and ethical conduct in the artistic domain. Currently, no official response has been issued by either ADOR or ILLIT concerning these allegations.
Since their launch, ILLIT has faced criticism for resembling NewJeans too closely. Both groups are recognized for their dynamic, upbeat electronic music, sharing a whimsical school uniform theme in their promotions, and showcasing choreography with notable similarities. Additionally, shortly after their debuts, both groups participated in events for major fashion brands. Their album art and promotional merchandise also feature cartoon characters that bear striking similarities.
This situation has led many fans to commend Min Hee Jin for her astute foresight in predicting that HYBE may attempt to appropriate NewJeans’ music and allocate it to other acts, prompting her to proactively reveal the demo in an attempt to outsmart HYBE.
Source: X
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