In a significant escalation of the ongoing dispute within the K-pop industry, BELIFT LAB has announced that it is taking legal action against ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. The agency, home to the artist ILLIT, released an official statement on May 22 detailing the charges and their reasons for the lawsuit.
BELIFT LAB's Official Statement:
"Hello, this is BELIFT LAB. Today (May 22), we have filed a complaint against CEO Min Hee Jin on the charges of interference with business and defamation for causing harm to our company and our affiliated artists with her unilateral false claims.
We clearly state that the plagiarism allegations raised by Min Hee Jin against our artist ILLIT are not true. We have submitted evidence to the judicial authorities that can prove these allegations are false, and even if this may take some time, we will clarify the truth through proper legal procedures.
The determination of whether intellectual property has been plagiarized should be made based on reasonable standards and procedures, not on unilateral and distorted interpretations. We express our regret that the efforts and achievements of our artists and members are being undermined by indiscriminate speculation and false information.
Furthermore, although this issue is unrelated to ILLIT, the members of ILLIT are suffering from severe malicious comments, ridicule, and personal attacks. We earnestly request that all the indiscriminate insults, malicious slander, spread of false information, and defamatory attacks against our artists to be ceased immediately.
We will do our utmost to protect our artists and members. Thank you."
The conflict began when Min Hee Jin alleged that ILLIT had plagiarized intellectual property, claims that BELIFT LAB firmly denies. According to BELIFT LAB, these allegations are unfounded and have caused significant harm to their business and their artists. The agency emphasizes that decisions regarding intellectual property must be based on reasonable standards and thorough procedures rather than what they describe as "unilateral and distorted interpretations."
The controversy has not only affected BELIFT LAB's business but also had a severe personal impact on the members of ILLIT. The group has been subjected to malicious comments, ridicule, and personal attacks online, leading the agency to plead for an end to the defamatory and slanderous behavior.
BELIFT LAB has submitted evidence to judicial authorities to disprove the plagiarism allegations and is committed to clearing their artist's name through the legal system. The agency is determined to protect its artists and uphold their achievements against what they describe as indiscriminate speculation and false information.
This lawsuit marks a pivotal moment in the dispute between the two agencies, with the potential to significantly impact the careers of those involved and set a precedent for handling such conflicts within the K-pop industry.