Why was Min Hee-jin referred to prosecutors over Illit and NewJeans plagiarism claims?

Police believed Min spread false plagiarism claims to disparage HYBE and Belift Lab, leading to allegations of defamation and obstruction of business. Two former Ador vice presidents were referred on the same allegations.

What have South Korean courts decided about Min Hee-jin’s claims that Illit copied NewJeans?

Courts recognized some similarities in internal documents and photo shoots but did not find enough evidence that Illit copied NewJeans’ concept. A March 2025 ruling also said it was difficult to view Illit’s concept as a copy.

What did Min Hee-jin say about the prosecutor referral and Belift Lab’s damages suit?

Min called the referral a provisional judgment by an investigative agency rather than an indictment or court ruling. She also accused HYBE’s labels of using legal proceedings to delay damages suits, including Belift Lab’s case scheduled for a Nov. 13 ruling.

Min Hee-jin referred to prosecutors over Illit plagiarism claims

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Summary

Min Hee-jin was referred to prosecutors in Seoul on Tuesday over allegations that she defamed HYBE and Belift Lab by claiming Illit copied NewJeans. The Yongsan Police Station sent the case on Oct. 1, also referring two former Ador vice presidents. Courts have previously found similarities but said there was insufficient evidence that Illit copied NewJeans’ concept. Min called the referral a provisional investigative judgment rather than an indictment or court ruling.

Key Facts

Min first alleged in April 2024 that Illit copied NewJeans’ debut strategy, choreography and visual concept, prompting Belift Lab to file a criminal complaint the following month.
A court in March 2025 said it was difficult to view Illit’s concept as a copy of NewJeans’ while ruling on Ador’s injunction request concerning its status as NewJeans’ agency.
In October 2025, a court found similarities in the groups’ internal documents and photo shoots but said there was insufficient evidence that Illit had copied NewJeans’ concept.
Min said Belift Lab’s civil suit at the Seoul Western District Court had been heard for more than two years and was scheduled for a ruling on Nov. 13.

By Pyo Kyung-min

Published Oct 14, 2026 11:54 am KST

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of HYBE sublabel Ador, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, April 25, 2024. Korea Times photo by Simon Park

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of HYBE subsidiary Ador, has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of defamation and obstruction of business over her claims that HYBE girl group Illit copied NewJeans, a girl group she had nurtured.

The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul confirmed Tuesday that it had sent the case to prosecutors on Oct. 1, believing Min spread false plagiarism claims to disparage HYBE and Illit's label, Belift Lab. Two former Ador vice presidents were also referred on the same allegations.

Min first raised the allegations in April 2024, claiming Illit had copied NewJeans' debut strategy, choreography and visual concept. Belift Lab filed a criminal complaint against her the following month.

Courts evaluating the disputes have so far declined to recognize the plagiarism claims.

In March 2025, ruling on Ador's injunction request to confirm its status as NewJeans' agency, a court said it was difficult to view Illit's concept as a copy of NewJeans.

In October 2025, a court upholding NewJeans' exclusive contracts with Ador found some similarities in the groups' internal documents and photo shoots but not enough evidence that Illit had copied NewJeans' concept.

From left are K-pop girl group Illit members Yunah, Moka, Wonhee, Iroha and Minju. Courtesy of Belift Lab

In a statement released on Wednesday, Min, now CEO of ooak records, called the referral “merely a provisional judgment by an investigative agency,” not an indictment or a court ruling. She noted that the same police station had previously declined to refer a separate HYBE complaint against her.

Min also accused HYBE's labels of stalling damages suits against her. She said Belift Lab's suit at the Seoul Western District Court, heard for more than two years and set for a ruling on Nov. 13, was disrupted when the label filed a motion to reopen arguments citing the police referral.

“A large corporation is mobilizing vast legal resources to abuse litigation as a delay tactic, burdening an individual with prolonged fatigue and pressure,” the statement read.

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