Min Hee-jin Initiates Defamation Lawsuit Against Belift Lab

Legal Battles Emerge Between Min Hee-jin and Belift Lab

On November 22, Min Hee-jin initiated a defamation lawsuit against executives from Belift Lab, including CEO Kim Tae-ho, alleging violations of the Information and Communications Network Act. She is pursuing 5 billion KRW (approximately 3.5 million USD) in damages, dismissing the company’s claims that her actions delayed their own legal proceedings against her. Min accuses the executives of disseminating false information about her through videos and press releases and is seeking criminal penalties in response.

Counterclaims and Regulatory Contentions

This legal action follows Belift Lab’s earlier civil suit against Min Hee-jin, demanding 20 billion KRW (around 14.2 million USD). The company has accused her of making unsubstantiated claims that their new group, ILLIT, copied the aesthetics and concept of NewJeans. While Min Hee-jin highlighted the notable similarities between the two groups, Belift Lab has firmly denied any wrongdoing. Both parties are expected to present their cases in court on January 10, 2024.

Additional Lawsuits and Resignations

In a related development, Min Hee-jin is also facing a separate 5 billion KRW legal challenge from Source Music, another subsidiary of HYBE. The hearing for this lawsuit is scheduled for the same day as the Belift Lab case. Complicating matters further, Min Hee-jin announced her resignation from ADOR and HYBE on November 20, attributing her departure to ongoing disputes and the company’s unwillingness to resolve past issues.

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