Seoul:Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has been referred to the prosecution by police for allegedly defaming the agency of the K-pop girl group Illit. The allegations stem from remarks Min made during an April 2024 press conference, claiming that Illit plagiarized NewJeans, a girl group she produced.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Belift Lab, the agency representing Illit, filed a defamation complaint against Min in May 2024. Subsequently, the Seoul Yongsan Police Station forwarded the case to the prosecution on October 1, recommending charges of defamation and obstruction of business.
The accusations against Min include allegedly spreading false information intended to damage the reputation of Belift Lab and its parent company, Hybe. This development follows a court ruling in March 2025, which found it challenging to conclude that Illit had plagiarized NewJeans. The court's decision granted an injunction requested by ADOR to restrict NewJeans' members from pursuing independent activities.
Prior to these events, NewJeans' members were involved in a dispute with ADOR after Min's removal from her position in 2024 amid ongoing tensions with Hybe, the parent company of both ADOR and Belift Lab.