HYBE ADOR Audit Conflict, Min Hee Jin Claims ILLIT Imitates NewJeans

Min Hee Jin (Instagram @min.hee.jin)

JAKARTA - The chaos between the ADOR sub-label and the company that houses it, HYBE is starting to emerge. This news stems from Min Hee Jin, CEO of ADOR who is suspected of going through the process of dismissal from the label he founded.

Monday, April 22, HYBE reportedly conducted an audit of ADOR management after finding allegations of ADOR trying to be independent. HYBE also reportedly held a shareholder meeting and sent documents for the dismissal of Min Hee Jin as CEO of ADOR.

HYBE confirmed that the audit was indeed carried out. ADOR has now opened its voice regarding their management through chaos with HYBE. ADOR regrets HYBE is trying to imitate the NewJeans concept through the latest group label BELIFT LAB, ILLIT.

Hello, this is ADOR co., Ltd (reference after ADOR, CEO Min Hee Jin). ADOR publicly explained the ILLIT incident imitating NewJeans to protect our artist NewJeans and the development of the music and culture industry in Korea, "said the initial statement of ADOR led by Min Hee Jin.

They explained HYBE as a company that houses various labels including ADOR which manages NewJeans and BELIFT LAB as home to ILLIT and ENHYPEN. However, ironically, they regretted the NewJeans concept which was widely encountered through ILLIT.

BELIFT LAB, one of the labels from HYBE, debuted a group of five ILLIT members in March this year. After the ILLIT teaser photo was released, explosive reactions spread online calling I think this is NewJeans. ILLIT imitates NewJeans in various entertainment activities including hair, makeup, clothing, choreography, photos, videos, and appearances," explained ADOR.

ILLIT is referred to as Min Hee Jin''s style Min Hee Jin' and NewJeans. A very unfortunate situation," he continued.

They also found the allegation of this clone because HYBE CEO, Bang Si Hyuk produced the debut album ILLIT, so ADOR concluded that this clone was not only carried out by BELIFT LAB but also HYBE as a company.

"HYBE, the company leading K-pop, has been blinded by short-term gains and non-oriential production by imitating cultural content without hesitation," he said.

ADOR menyayangkan NewJeans yang sedang menyiapkan comeback di bulan Mei terus mendapat sorotan karena ILLIT. Mereka mengklaim pihak yang harus bertanggung jawab di sini adalah HYBE dan BELIFT LAB.

There is a reaction that understands that ILLIT is similar to NewJeans because they are under the HYBE label. Some even think ADOR and NewJeans allow that similarity but that reaction is a misunderstanding. A multi-label system is a system for every label to make music independently, not a system that labels others to emulate other labels just because they are connected, "explained the agency.

ADOR also emphasized that they did not want NewJeans and ILLIT to be linked and even promoted as group brothers and sisters just because they are one company. ADOR has also voiced this issue to HYBE and BELIFT LAB but they have made various reasons.

In the midst of this situation, HYBE informed April 22, 2024, they will remove CEO Min Hee Jin from duty because they are worried that he will damage ADOR's corporate value. At the same time, they created a media play with CEO Min Hee Jin trying to draw up management rights," the agency said.

ADOR will make a further statement after discussing with NewJeans members and legal parties. ADOR is the label founded by Min Hee Jin after leaving SM Entertainment. He orbited NewJeans as the first group in the label with HYBE.

Then BELIFT LAB, which is also a sub-label HYBE, debuted ENHYPEN and ILLIT in March.