Legal Battle: ILLIT’s Agency Takes Action Against Former ADOR CEO
In a significant legal development, ILLIT’s management company, Belift Lab, has initiated a lawsuit against former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, claiming damages amounting to $1.4 million (approximately 2 billion won). This case stems from allegations of emotional distress caused to the girl group shortly after their debut.
Trial Proceedings and Allegations
The initial hearing for the lawsuit was held on January 10 at the Seoul Western District Court, under the oversight of Judge Kim Jin Young. Remarkably, Min Hee Jin was absent from this court session, having each side represented solely by their legal counsel.
In conjunction with this lawsuit, a second trial regarding a $339,158 (500 million KRW) claim from Source Music against Min Hee Jin occurred on the same day, raising additional scrutiny around the former CEO’s outspoken criticisms of ILLIT.
Claims of Emotional Suffering
Belift Lab has accused Min Hee Jin of inflicting emotional distress on ILLIT’s members by allegedly targeting the new girl group just after their launch. In the opening statements, a lawyer from Belift Lab stated, “The defendant publicly targeted a rookie girl group, ILLIT, shortly after their debut, causing significant emotional distress to these young girls. This needs to be corrected.”
Choreography Copyright Controversy
Central to the accusations is the claim that Min Hee Jin attempted to assert ownership over specific dance choreography, a common practice that typically features “repetitive movements with minor variations.”Belift Lab’s attorney argued that such claims depicted malicious intent, stating, “The defendant’s actions show malicious intent, as they promoted themselves by attacking another group. Such unlawful actions should not be repeated.”
Counterclaims and Lasting Accusations
In a counterattack, Min Hee Jin accused ILLIT of mimicking NewJeans, a group that debuted eight months prior to ILLIT, across various aspects of entertainment including styling and choreography. Her attorney dismissed Belift’s claims as “baseless,”emphasizing that the allegations were merely emotional rhetoric.
Moreover, the attorney reiterated that public allegations of plagiarism surfaced only after ILLIT’s debut, with notable scrutiny from media outlets and even the families of the group’s members.
In response to the escalating concerns, Min Hee Jin, who was also the CEO of ADOR at the time, attempted to mediate the issues through internal correspondence and held a press conference to clarify her statements, emphasizing the need for transparency in K-pop production practices.
Next Steps in Judicial Proceedings
As the legal proceedings continue, both parties committed to present further arguments at the next trial session, which is set for March 7. This ongoing case highlights the challenging dynamics within the K-pop industry, especially concerning the intersection of creativity and perceived intellectual property infringement.
For more on this developing story, please refer to the Source & Images.
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