https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202411221255013?pt=nv
Nov 22 2024, 12:55 KST
Min Hee-jin vs BELIFT LAB Counter-lawsuits
Aftermath of 'IT, NewJeans Plagiarism Allegations'*
Caricature of Kim Tae-ho, HYBE COO and BELIFT LAB CEO. X (Twitter) capture
Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, has announced legal action against Kim Tae-ho, HYBE COO and BELIFT LAB CEO. The dispute between former CEO Min and BELIFT LAB is intensifying over I***T's similarities to NewJeans.
Law firm Shin&Kim LLC(Sejong), Min's legal representative, released a statement on the 22nd saying, "Former CEO Min has filed a criminal complaint today against CEO Kim Tae-ho, BELIFT LAB Vice President Choi Yun-hyeok, Visual Director Heu Serian, and Head of Operations (HOO) Lee Ga-jeun for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act," adding that "Additionally, we are filing a 5 billion won(Approx. 3.57 million USD) damages lawsuit against BELIFT LAB."
Former CEO Min has essentially initiated legal proceedings against most of I***T's key operational leaders.
They continued, "CEO Kim is spreading misinformation claiming that former CEO Min delayed the civil lawsuit filed against BELIFT LAB, but this is clearly false," adding "We expect that the countersuit filed by former CEO Min will also be heard at the first trial in January next year, and we hope BELIFT LAB will sincerely participate in the proceedings."
Former CEO Min has previously raised allegations that BELIFT LAB plagiarized NewJeans' production formula while producing I***T. In response, CEO Kim and BELIFT LAB posted a video refuting former CEO Min's claims.
Furthermore, BELIFT LAB not only filed a criminal complaint against former CEO Min for defamation but also filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages in the 2 billion won(Approx. 1.42 million USD) range.
Additionally, as recent allegations resurface about similarities between IT's debut planning documents and NewJeans' planning documents, the issue of IT's similarities to NewJeans has once again come to the forefront.
In response, CEO Kim denied the allegations of I***T plagiarizing NewJeans in a recent media interview, while stating, "Former CEO Min has been particularly delaying arguments in both criminal and civil cases through various methods," adding "Despite being aware of the lawsuit, former CEO Min refused court deliveries three times, so we additionally submitted an 'Application for Setting judgment Date Without Arguments' to prevent further delays in the lawsuit."
After this interview was released, NewJeans' fandom Team Bunnies issued a statement on the 18th saying, "CEO Kim is spreading claims as if they were facts, alleging that former CEO Min is intentionally delaying the lawsuit," and that "HYBE, ADOR, and BELIFT LAB are indiscriminately filing about 10 lawsuits against individuals using company funds." They also announced plans to file a criminal complaint against CEO Kim for defamation and other charges.