Belift Lab Initiates Legal Action Against NewJeans Fan Group
Belift Lab, the managing agency of the K-pop group ILLIT under the HYBE umbrella, has embarked on a significant legal path by filing a defamation lawsuit against the operator of Team Bunnies, a fan group associated with NewJeans. The claim seeks a substantial sum of 100 million won in damages.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit was lodged on Monday at the Seoul Western District Court, implicating both the unnamed operator of Team Bunnies and the operator’s parents as defendants. According to Belift Lab’s allegations, Team Bunnies has repeatedly disseminated falsehoods suggesting that ILLIT has plagiarized the artistic concept of NewJeans, thereby inflicting substantial harm on the group’s reputation and Belift Lab’s business interests. This assertion is supported by reports from The Korea Herald.
Background of the Dispute
This contentious issue traces back to November 2024 when Team Bunnies attempted to file criminal charges against Kim Tae-ho, the CEO of Belift Lab. This move was largely perceived as a backlash against Kim’s public dismissal of allegations that ILLIT had copied from NewJeans; he maintained that each group’s creative vision was unique. The fan group claimed they possessed leaked voice recordings and internal documents purportedly proving otherwise.
Court Findings and Challenges
However, recent developments in the ongoing legal saga reveal some adverse circumstances for Team Bunnies. In a court case concerning the NewJeans members’ exclusive contract with ADOR, the court concluded that “it is difficult to acknowledge that ILLIT replicated NewJeans’ concept, ”complicating Team Bunnies’ claims.
Broader Allegations Against Team Bunnies
Beyond addressing plagiarism accusations, Belift Lab’s lawsuit brings forth additional grievances. The label contends that Team Bunnies illegally accessed and revealed internal confidential documents pertinent to ILLIT’s strategic planning. Moreover, they challenge the validity of Team Bunnies’ actions in filing what they describe as a malicious criminal complaint.
Team Bunnies: Origin and Legal Scrutiny
Initially established in September 2024, Team Bunnies touted itself as a consortium of experts from diverse fields like law, media, finance, and culture. The group drew considerable attention by raising over 50 million won online in October 2024, intending to fund legal battles against disparaging posts targeting NewJeans.
However, this fundraising initiative quickly came under scrutiny by authorities. It was later revealed that the operator who was summoned for police questioning was a minor, referred to as A. Following revelations that Team Bunnies had failed to complete essential registration procedures, they admitted in November to being “a one-person organization operated by a single minor”and subsequently issued an apology for managing an unregistered donation system.
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