ADOR CEO Min Heejin Accuses HYBE of Copying NewJeans

As the news of the launch of HYBE's internal audit became known, Min Heejin, CEO of ADOR, who was embroiled in internal strife with HYBE, opened up about allegations of taking over management rights raised by some executives of ADOR, including herself. CEO Min Heejin argued that the cultural achievements of the label ADOR, which raised girl group NewJeans, were seriously violated by HYBE. She also warned that she would not stand by and watch over various unfair acts such as NewJeans' copy by HYBE and Belift Lab, and demanded HYBE's recognition and improvement of the situation.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, ADOR Co., Ltd. officially released a statement titled "ADOR's official position on ILLIT copying NewJeans incident."

"HYBE operates a multi-label system where several labels independently create their own music and pursue cultural diversity through it," ADOR said. "ADOR is one of the labels. However, the cultural achievements made by ADOR and its artist, NewJeans, are ironically violated most seriously by HYBE."

ADOR mentioned ILLIT, a five-member girl group that was debuted in March by one of HYBE's labels, Belift Lab. After ILLIT's teaser photos were released, comments that said, "I thought it was NewJeans" exploded online. "ILLIT is copying NewJeans in all areas of entertainment activities, including hair, makeup, costumes, choreography, photos, videos, and event appearances. It is truly shameful," ADOR said.

"HYBE's Chairman Bang Si-hyuk produced the debut album of ILLIT. ILLIT's copy of NewJeans was not done by the label Belift Lab alone, but by HYBE," she said. "HYBE, a leading K-pop company, is producing clichés rather than showing newness by copying successful cultural contents without hesitation because it is blinded to short-term profits."

She also pointed out that the damage caused by a series of actions is entirely up to ADOR and NewJeans. ADOR said, "We summoned NewJeans. The appearance of ILLIT consumed NewJeans' image, and it was dragged into unnecessary controversy, causing concern and fatigue to fans and the public. There are even reactions that ADOR and NewJeanswould have allowed or understood this similarity. However, these reactions are clearly misunderstandings and we want to correct them. Multi-labels are a system that allows each label to perform the music they want independently, not a system that exonerates other labels from copying the cultural achievements made by one label just because it is an affiliated label."

ADOR also stressed that they have never allowed or understood anyone to copy NewJeans' performance, including HYBE and Belift Lab. Rather, they raised official questions about a series of actions by HYBE and Belift Lab, including allegations of copying, but also pointed out that both were in a hurry to make excuses without admitting their wrongdoing. ADOR said, "In the meantime, HYBE suddenly notified today (April 22, 2024) that it would take steps to suspend and dismiss Min Hee-jin as CEO, and for that reason, CEO Min Hee-jin said, "There is a concern that the corporate value of ADOR will be significantly damaged," adding, "At the same time, the media is attempting to play the media with absurd content, such as Min Hee-jin's attempt to take over management control."

"There seems to be some intention that is incomprehensible in common sense about how a legitimate protest to protect the cultural performance of New Jeans, the artist, can harm the interests of ADOR, how it can be an act of stealing the management rights of ADOR," they said. "HYBE, Belift Lab, and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk seem to think that it will be over if they just kick CEO Min Hee-jin out of the company, without making a proper apology or countermeasures for the incident." ADOR warned, "We will use all possible means and methods to protect the cultural achievements New Jeans has been working on and prevent further infringement by copying." They also added that they want to clarify that they cannot just sit idly by the various unfair acts that continue to be committed to ADOR and New Jeans, including copying.

ADOR is a HYBE-affiliated label established by CEO Min Hee-jin in 2021. HYBE has an 80 percent stake and the remaining 20 percent is owned by executives of ADOR including CEO Min Hee-jin. Min Hee-jin exercised her call option last year to purchase 18 percent of ADOR's shares. With this, she became the second largest shareholder of ADOR after HYBE.

Last year, ADOR ranked third among HYBE labels with 110.2 billion won in sales and 33.5 billion won in operating profit, following Big Hit Music, which includes BTS, and Pledis, which includes Seventeen. The achievements were made with just one team of New Jeans, which attracted much attention.

ILLIT is a new girl group launched by Belift Lab on the 25th of last month through a JTBC competition program last year. Chairman Hive Bang Si-hyuk produced the debut album of ILLIT.

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