The girl group ILLIT has released a statement addressing the fallout from the ongoing conflict between HYBE and former Ador CEO Min Hee Jin. Its agency, Belift Lab, stated yesterday, “We strongly demand an end to the baseless personal attacks on our rookie artists stemming from these unfounded plagiarism allegations.”
Belift Lab clarified the situation: “The manager responsible for ILLIT’s protocol never instructed the NewJeans members to ignore anyone, and ILLIT members have consistently greeted them.” This was supported by reviews of CCTV footage and interviews with staff and artists conducted after concerns were raised by the parents of NewJeans members.
The agency further explained that the only interaction between the two groups took place on May 27, when ILLIT and NewJeans briefly shared the same space at the HYBE building. Video footage shows ILLIT members greeting NewJeans member Hanni with a respectful 90-degree bow as they exited the elevator.
Belift Lab went on to address Min Hee Jin’s claims: “After reviewing the footage, former CEO Min Hee Jin alleged that the lack of greetings happened after this scene and suggested the existence of more videos. However, as the footage retention period had surpassed 30 days, obtaining additional recordings is no longer possible. Despite this, Min has insinuated that HYBE intentionally deleted them.” The agency firmly stated that their staff maintains respectful communication and that the notion of instructing someone to “ignore” another person is inconsistent with their values and behavior.
Despite their efforts to cooperate, the agency also expressed frustration over the continuous emergence of new, unsubstantiated claims. “We have consistently emphasized the importance of respectful conduct between artists from different labels and have approached the investigation with sincerity. However, even after providing the necessary explanations, false narratives continue to circulate,” they added. Belift Lab also raised concerns that the situation has escalated to the point of being discussed in the National Assembly’s audit, questioning if there are ulterior motives behind the ongoing claims.
Amid the ongoing dispute between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee Jin, plagiarism allegations against ILLIT have surfaced, affecting both the group and its agency, Belift Lab. In September, during a surprise live stream, NewJeans member Hanni revealed that she heard a HYBE manager instruct another artist to “ignore” someone, reigniting accusations of workplace bullying.
In this context, Belift Lab stated, “We have refrained from discussing this issue to protect our staff members, who may be disadvantaged compared to well-known artists. However, as false narratives continue to be presented as facts, this staff member is experiencing significant frustration and mental distress. By bringing personnel matters, which should remain private, into the public arena and consistently making claims that differ from the truth, the vulnerable protocol staff are truly suffering.” They called for restraint in the ongoing discourse.
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