Hive 감사 반나절 만에 입장 밝혀
‘Attempted Takeover of Management Rights’ Report Called “Absurd”
Min Hee-jin, CEO of ADORE, the label to which girl group NewJeans belongs, expressed her position on the allegations of an 'attempted takeover of management rights' that surfaced on the 22nd and the subsequent audit initiated by the headquarters, HYBE, stating, “They are trying to dismiss me because I raised the issue that ILY:1 copied NewJeans.”
CEO Min denied the 'attempted takeover of management rights' cited by HYBE as the reason for the audit, calling it “absurd.”
In an official statement released that afternoon, CEO Min raised concerns, saying, “The cultural achievements made by ADORE and its artist NewJeans are ironically being most severely infringed upon by HYBE.”
She claimed, “One of HYBE’s labels, Belift Lab, debuted a five-member female idol group, ILY:1, in March,” and added, “ILY:1 is copying NewJeans in every aspect of their entertainment activities, including hair, makeup, costumes, choreography, photography, videos, and event appearances.”
ILY:1 gained great popularity by sweeping music charts and TV music programs with their debut song ‘Magnetic,’ and became the first K-pop debut act to enter the US Billboard main chart 'Hot 100.' However, there were criticisms at one point that their comfortable song style, mysterious teenage sensibility, and some scenes in their music video were similar to NewJeans.
CEO Min stated, “HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk produced ILY:1’s debut album,” emphasizing, “ILY:1’s copying of NewJeans is not something done solely by the label Belift Lab; HYBE was involved. HYBE, a leading company in K-pop, blinded by short-term profits, is copying successful cultural content without hesitation, producing not novelty but banality.”
She continued, “There are reactions suggesting that since they are labels under HYBE, ADORE and NewJeans must have allowed or understood the similarities,” but “such reactions are a clear misunderstanding, and I want to correct this. ADORE has never permitted or tolerated anyone, including HYBE and Belift Lab, to copy NewJeans’ achievements,” she stressed.
CEO Min revealed that she officially raised the issue of these similarities with HYBE and Belift Lab. She claimed, “HYBE and Belift Lab have been quick to make excuses without admitting wrongdoing and have been delaying specific responses to buy time.”
She added, “Meanwhile, HYBE suddenly notified me today that they would suspend my duties and proceed with dismissal procedures, citing 'a significant risk of damaging ADORE’s corporate value' as the reason,” and “at the same time, they attempted a ridiculous media play by claiming I tried to 'take over management rights.'”
She criticized, “I find it incomprehensible how a legitimate protest to protect NewJeans’ cultural achievements could be considered harmful to ADORE’s interests or an act of attempting to seize ADORE’s management rights. It seems there is some unreasonable intention behind this.”
She said, “HYBE, Belift Lab, and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk seem to think that simply expelling an individual from the company will resolve the issue without offering a proper apology or measures,” and “I will use all possible means and methods to protect the cultural achievements NewJeans has built and to prevent further infringements caused by copying.”
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