The damages lawsuit filed by Belift Lab and Source Music, both under HYBE, against former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin is set to begin.
The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court will hold the first hearing for the damages lawsuit filed by Belift Lab, the agency of ILY:it, and Source Music, the agency of LE SSERAFIM, against Min Hee-jin on the 10th. The scale of the lawsuit is reported to be 2 billion won and 500 million won, respectively.
Belift Lab filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin in May of last year, seeking damages for defamation and obstruction of business. Previously, Min Hee-jin had repeatedly claimed that ILY:it had copied the concept of NewJeans, a girl group under Ador.
In July of the same year, Source Music also filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin.
During a press conference held in April, Min Hee-jin stated that Source Music had neglected the members of NewJeans and raised issues regarding LE SSERAFIM debuting before NewJeans. Source Music submitted a complaint, claiming that Min Hee-jin's statements caused severe online harassment for LE SSERAFIM.
In response, Min Hee-jin countered by filing a lawsuit against Belift Lab's CEO Kim Tae-ho and others for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, seeking 5 billion won in damages.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin has been in conflict with HYBE since April of last year. HYBE initiated an audit, claiming that the management team led by Min Hee-jin, who was then the CEO of Ador, was attempting to "usurp management rights." Min Hee-jin alleged that she was being retaliated against for raising the issue of ILY:it's "NewJeans copy" problem.
The Ador board, composed of HYBE personnel, dismissed Min Hee-jin from her position as CEO in August of the same year, and despite public support from NewJeans members, her return was thwarted. Ultimately, Min Hee-jin announced her complete separation from HYBE by resigning from her position as an internal director at Ador in November.
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
