ILLIT Accused of Copying NewJeans? Netizens Come to the Girl Group’s Defense

Despite having a remarkable debut and achieving a series of record-breaking accomplishments, ILLIT is still viewed as a “jinxed”rookie due to their involvement in the dispute between HYBE and Min Hee-jin. Since their debut, the girl group from BELIFT LAB has been constantly compared to NewJeans, facing numerous challenges.

Undoubtedly, whether it be their lineup, age, concept, or music, ILLIT never fails to bring to mind their sister group from the same HYBE Labels.

Despite ILLIT having no involvement in the decisions made by the higher-ups, the controversy escalated when Min Hee-jin publicly criticized HYBE and Bang Si-hyuk for creating ILLIT as a copy of NewJeans. As a result, ILLIT has been unfairly labeled as a “copycat”and has faced constant ridicule.

In recent news, a Korean media site has targeted ILLIT with ridicule. One particular news outlet published an article titled “ILLIT Feels No Shame as ‘NewJeans Copycat’,”which has sparked a variety of reactions among netizens.

Specifically, the previously mentioned article included a statement of gratitude from ILLIT’s Yunah, who had recently been accused of plagiarism by the founder of NewJeans on April 24.

Yunah expressed her gratitude to everyone at the company, including the Belift Lab staff. She acknowledged the hard work that went into creating their debut album and stated that she was proud of their accomplishments. While she may not be able to express her thanks frequently, she believed that everyone understood the sincerity behind her words.

Yunah’s statement led to accusations that ILLIT was not innocent in the plagiarism allegations. Some netizens interpreted this as an indication of the group’s support for the company’s actions and their allegiance to creative director Serian Heu, who is responsible for their debut image.

Additionally, Serian Heu’s response to Min Hee-jin’s accusations was posting a photo of a middle finger on their Instagram story. As a result, numerous “conspiracy theories”emerged regarding the supposed connection between ILLIT – NewJeans and top executives closely linked to both organizations.

that's it — ILLIT’s concept was headed by Serian Heu – a former creative director of Vogue Korea.

Despite facing significant opposition from the Korean public, the aforementioned article also garnered support. Specifically, the majority of netizens believe that ILLIT – a music group made up of young girls – should be shielded from unjust criticism.

The creative team stressed the fact that they have authority over the products and image directions, and that artists, particularly those who are new, do not have much say in the matter.

Based on their beliefs, these individuals believe it is only natural for ILLIT to show appreciation towards the managing company for their success in their careers. However, this does not imply that the group is taking sides in the plagiarism allegations. Spreading unfounded rumors and speculation only causes harm to others.

Here are a few remarks from Korean internet users:

While these individuals may only show sympathy towards HYBE’s male groups, viewing them as unfortunate victims of the company’s exploitation, they hold the members of ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM accountable for the company’s errors. It is worth noting that sometimes, a woman’s biggest adversary can be another woman.
Naturally, when receiving an award, one is expected to express gratitude and say thank you. However, despite this expectation, they still continue to speculate.
So, it seems like there was some overthinking in the final stage. These kids won music awards and expressed their gratitude to the company, which is the appropriate thing to do. However, was there any mention of NewJeans?
Are these individuals truly under the impression that these inexperienced youngsters have the power to make a decision on copying NewJeans? It is ultimately the responsibility of the company.
If the singer is at fault, shouldn’t all HYBE idols be held accountable? Why single out LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT and criticize them for something they may not have been involved in?

This information can be found on Pann Nate, under the K14 category.