Min Hee-jin and Belift Lab Clash in 2 Billion Won Damage Suit Pleading

The Seoul Western District Court has resumed proceedings in the 2 billion won (~$1.5M USD) damage lawsuit filed by Belift Lab against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. During the pleading session on May 15, both parties argued allegations that the group ILLIT copied NewJeans and whether evidence presented was legally obtained.

Key Facts

The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court held the 6th pleading session following a two-month suspension.
The conflict stems from Min Hee-jin’s April 2024 press conference, where she characterized ILLIT as a "copy of NewJeans" or a "Min Hee-jin style" imitation.
Belift Lab is seeking 2 billion won (~$1.5M USD) in damages, alleging business obstruction and defamation through the spread of false rumors.
Belift Lab presented KakaoTalk messages claiming Min planned to frame the label for "sajaegi" (chart manipulation) and calculated contract termination costs for NewJeans as early as mid-March 2023.
Min’s legal team argued the KakaoTalk materials were obtained illegally and reflected personal thoughts rather than an executed strategy.
Min’s defense stated she suffered mental distress from a "witch hunt" involving approximately 1,700 articles published prior to her first press conference.
Min's side maintained her plagiarism claims were internal protests via email to protect her artists, which triggered a retaliatory audit by HYBE.

Key Terms

Sajaegi: The practice of manipulating music charts, typically through bulk purchases of albums or digital streams.
Pleading Session: A formal court proceeding where parties present arguments and evidence to the judge.