“They Copied NewJeans’ Formula” — Korean Netizens Agree With ADOR’s Min Hee Jin

ADOR‘s CEO Min Hee Jin recently held a press conference where she poured out her grievances. She touched on the topic of why she brought up ILLIT‘s plagiarism of NewJeans as a problem.

She admitted that it was the fault of HYBE, not ILLIT. She reasoned that copying NewJeans would only serve to destroy the industry, and render the multi-label system void.

I’m not criticizing ILLIT. The kids did nothing wrong. It’s the problem of the adults. I brought up plagiarism because of the following. Of course, anyone can have long, straight hair. But they copied our formula too much. The reason I’m sad about it is because then what’s the reason for having a multi-label? Just run the company like YG or SM. The multi-label exists to bring out the individuality of each group. The reason I hate this is because if someone like [HYBE] can just copy us, then the smaller companies will also begin to copy NewJeans because they infer that you can do well just by copying us. Then everyone becomes NewJeans. I have to make such a criticism so the industry can stay alive.

— Min Hee Jin

Netizens were also in agreement with her words.

• It’s so obvious that people will be reminded of NewJeans. Min Hee Jin went crazy because they dared touch her creation.
• She’s saying what’s right. They’re exact copies.
• If NewJeans didn’t debut [the way they did], do you think ILLIT would [debut that way]? LOL.
• Even back then, people kept saying they looked similar… People just let it go because they’re both under HYBE.
• They copied NewJeans LOL. But in a low quality.
• She’s right. They were just NewJeans 2.0.
• If you disagree, then you have no conscience.
• Honestly, it crosses the line for a company to debut a copy group with the same concept in just two years of the original’s debut.
• They’re very similar.

What do you think?