ILLIT members bear brunt of HYBE and Ador feud
Members of the group ILLIT suffer from various speculative rumors and malicious comments as tensions between HYBE and Ador's CEO Min Hee-jin drag on. Courtesy of Belift Lab
Members of the girl group ILLIT are suffering from various speculative rumors and malicious comments as a consequence of the fallout caused by the conflict between HYBE and Ador's CEO Min Hee-jin.
ILLIT member Wonhee had to withdraw from scheduled activities due to poor health, according to the group's agency, Belift Lab, Thursday.
"Wonhee has received medical treatment due to poor health," it said "She will not be attending the planned university festival based on the medical advice she received."
The agency said it prioritizes its artists' health above all and will manage their schedules accordingly. "We will do our utmost to ensure Wonhee recovers and can meet her fans in good health."
Despite these reassurances, concerns about ILLIT members persist as they continue to be plagued by excessive malicious comments and speculative rumors.
ILLIT officially debuted in March under HYBE's label Belift Lab. Its debut song, "Magnetic," quickly topped domestic music charts and music shows, establishing a strong presence for the group in the music industry.
However, just over a month after its debut, ILLIT faced an unexpected crisis. Amid the recent conflict between HYBE and Ador, allegations that ILLIT copied NewJeans have emerged.
ILLIT taking brunt of controversy
ILLIT member Wonhee / Courtesy of Belift Lab
In a recent press conference, Ador's CEO Min said that Belift Lab and HYBE's chairman Bang Si-hyuk led the effort to copy NewJeans. This claim led some netizens to support Min's assertions and inundate ILLIT with unfounded criticisms.
At the time, Min said, "I am not criticizing ILLIT. What fault do the children have? The problem lies with the adults," clarifying that the ILLIT members were not the subject of her criticism.
However, the repercussions of the "NewJeans copy" controversy fell squarely on the ILLIT members. During a live broadcast last month, the members faced an onslaught of malicious comments. Some fans continued to spread unfounded speculative rumors about ILLIT, further fueling the wave of criticism.
As Min said there is no justifiable reason for the ILLIT members to face such harsh criticism. Their only "fault" is working diligently under the concept set by their company.
Nevertheless, the backlash has impacted the members. Many are concerned about their mental well-being, especially given their young age and recent debut. Their average age comes to 18.6.
Wonhee's sudden health issues and absence from activities have only heightened these concerns.
Amid the escalating situation, Belift Lab has recently filed a defamation lawsuit against Ador's CEO Min, stating, "We have filed a complaint against Min for obstruction of business and defamation, as she has caused harm by spreading unilateral false information about our company and artists."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.