Latest news with #MinHee-jin
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
K-Pop Legal Battle: NewJeans vs ILLIT - Accusations of Copying Ignite Fan Fury
The K-Pop Feud That Has Everyone Picking Sides Imagine if two of Bollywood's biggest production houses went to court because one accused the other of copying their movie style. That's exactly what's happening in the K-pop world right now, and it's absolutely wild. Two girl groups - NewJeans and ILLIT - are at the center of a massive legal battle that's got fans arguing on social media, agencies pointing fingers, and the entire Korean entertainment industry watching with popcorn in hand. The drama started when Min Hee-jin, the creative mastermind behind NewJeans, publicly accused the newer group ILLIT of straight-up copying her work. Now ILLIT's agency, BELIFT LAB, is suing Min Hee-jin for ₹180 crore (that's about 20 billion Korean won) because they claim she's spreading lies and damaging their reputation. The court case has turned into a full-blown PowerPoint presentation battle - yes, you read that right - with both sides bringing receipts and evidence to prove their point. BELIFT LAB Says_ "Everything is Fair Game in K-Pop" BELIFT LAB's defense is pretty simple: they're basically saying that Min Hee-jin is acting like she invented everything in K-pop. Their argument is that dance moves, photo styles, and marketing strategies belong to everyone in the industry, not just one person. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian Investors Are Buying These Dubai Apartments—Here's Why Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo Think about it like this - if Shah Rukh Khan claimed he invented the romantic hero pose with arms spread wide, every other Bollywood actor would be in trouble, right? That's exactly what BELIFT LAB is saying about Min Hee-jin's claims. They brought examples showing that NewJeans' famous "hair whip" dance move appears in songs by other groups like ITZY and aespa. They even said that NewJeans' retro Y2K style and mysterious concept is totally different from ILLIT's magical princess theme - like comparing a vintage Bollywood film to a fantasy adventure movie. The agency also threw some serious shade by showing that many things NewJeans did "first" were actually done by older groups like GFRIEND years earlier. It's like saying every romantic comedy copies the same basic formula, but that doesn't make them all the same movie. New Jeans Min Hee-jin Fights Back_ "The Copying is Too Obvious" Min Hee-jin's team isn't backing down though. They're saying that ILLIT didn't just copy one or two things - they copied everything from NewJeans' entire vibe. We're talking about album covers, hairstyles, photoshoot concepts, dance moves, and even the way they promote themselves. Her lawyers pointed out that as soon as ILLIT debuted, fans on social media immediately started commenting "they look like NewJeans" and "this feels familiar." It's like when a new web series comes out and everyone immediately says it reminds them of another popular show - sometimes the similarities are just too obvious to ignore. They're also arguing that this isn't about legal copyright (like claiming someone stole your song), but about calling out what they see as blatant copying. It's more like saying "Hey, your new dance looks exactly like mine" rather than "You legally stole my choreography." The most interesting part? Min Hee-jin's team says she only spoke up because she was being attacked by the bigger company HYBE, and she had to defend herself and her work. It's giving major David vs. Goliath energy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From Bang Si‑hyuk to Yang Hyun‑suk: Major K‑pop agencies & scandals involving their leaders
K-pop isn't only about the idols fans like; it's also about the powerful agencies that shape careers and create worldwide stars. While superstars get all the attention, the actual drama typically takes place behind the scenes. From internal tensions to major criminal charges, some agency chiefs have found themselves at the heart of controversy, with effects that can be felt by the artists themselves. Here's an overview of the top K-pop companies and the scandals that have engulfed its CEOs. HYBE (Home to BTS, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM) Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman, of the global conglomerate is currently under criminal investigation by South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service. He has been accused of fraudulent securities trading involving secret shareholder agreements worth approximately ₩400 billion (~$290 million) just before HYBE's 2020 IPO. The Financial Services Commission formally referred him to prosecutors. The company has also faced internal turmoil, most notably a public and legal conflict with Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR (a HYBE subsidiary), over creative control and alleged mistreatment of NewJeans members. This ongoing feud has further tarnished the company's leadership image. YG Entertainment (Home to BLACKPINK, BABYMONSTER) Yang Hyun-suk, YG's founder and previous CEO, resigned in 2019 after various controversies involving drug-related claims against his musicians. His most significant legal struggle ended in 2023, when he was convicted of coercing a trainee to recant their testimony in a drug case. In 2025, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld the 6-month suspended prison term, dealing a last legal and reputational blow to the agency's legacy. SM Entertainment (Home to EXO, aespa, NCT) Lee Soo-man, SM's founder and former executive producer, has been embroiled in numerous financial and ethical scandals over the years. He formally left as chief producer in 2023, but has since founded A2O Entertainment, which focuses on global talent development. Nonetheless, his scandals continue to haunt him. He was convicted of embezzlement and stock manipulation in the early 2000s, but was later pardoned by the president. He was also accused of funneling billions of won to his private company, Like Planning, which raised severe conflicts of interest problems. Lee was identified in the Pandora Papers for allegedly diverting international revenues through offshore shell businesses such as CT Planning Ltd. In 2023, he became the focal point of a power struggle between Kakao and SM's management during the company's restructuring and ownership dispute. JYP Entertainment (Home to TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY) Park Jin-young (JYP), the company's founder and creative director, has mainly avoided legal controversies, but he has experienced controversy. In 2011, he faced a plagiarism case for the song "Someday," which was first declared in favor of the plaintiff. The Supreme Court overturned the verdict in 2015, citing a lack of significant musical similarities. He also faced allegations of involvement with the Salvation Sect in the Sewol ferry disaster, which he openly refuted. Not only that, but he was criticized by artists such as Sunmi (former Wonder Girls) for wielding excessive creative control and restricting artistic expression. Rumours circulated in 2014 that he attempted to sell JYP Entertainment to YG, however both firms refuted this. Attrakt (Agency of FIFTY FIFTY) CEO Jeon Hong-joon made news in 2023 when girl group FIFTY FIFTY sought an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts, charging financial mismanagement and medical malpractice. The court finally found in favor of Attrakt, prompting Jeon to cancel the members' contracts and file criminal and civil cases against the idols and their production business for alleged fraud and poaching. Member Keena eventually dropped her complaint and reconnected with the agency. Since then, Attrakt has reorganized FIFTY FIFTY with new members and is gearing up for a comeback, including a U.S. tour. Konnect Entertainment (Founded by Kang Daniel) The agency, previously seen as a model for self-managed idols, was forced to close in 2024 when its key shareholder was accused of fabricating paperwork and unlawfully signing ₩10 billion contracts under Kang Daniel's name. The stockholder is still under investigation. TS Entertainment & Media Line (Known for groups like B.A.P) TS Entertainment, which managed groups such as B.A.P. and SECRET, was sued many times for unfair contracts and artist mistreatment before quietly ceasing operations. The CEO of Media Line Entertainment was convicted of child abuse in 2019 for physically and emotionally torturing members of the boy band The East Light. He was sentenced to six years in prison, underscoring the harsh treatment that some trainees experience in the profession. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
ILLIT drags BTS, Jennie, and aespa to refute Min Hee Jin's accusations of copying NewJeans
On July 15, former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin walked free after the court tossed out HYBE's breach of trust accusation, citing 'no criminal evidence.' After a year-long investigation, Seoul's Yongsan Police announced a non-prosecution decision, to which the Bang Si Hyuk-led company fired back with an objection. With NewJeans still caught in the ADOR vs HYBE crossfire, Min's next move was to call out ILLIT. She accused the rookie group of stealing NewJeans' hanbok concept, not just borrowing it, but lifting the look, the mood, and even the moves. BELIFT LAB, ILLIT's agency, has since responded. Also read: NewJeans makes final call on HYBE settlement after reading fans' letters: ADOR issues statement ILLIT, managed by BELIFT LAB (also under HYBE), is a 5th-gen girl group with Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha. The band was formed through the survival show R U Next? and officially debuted earlier this year. During the third court hearing, Min Hee Jin, the former creative force behind NewJeans, told the judge, 'From the styling to the lighting, props, set design, gaze direction of the members, and even the way the photos were framed, ILLIT's hanbok photoshoot looks just like NewJeans'' (via KBIZoom). She also pointed out how the group copied debut strategy, citing NewJeans' first appearance at a Chanel event, and how ILLIT rolled out at a high-profile fashion show soon after. Her legal team claimed even the makeup, hair, and outfits felt lifted, pointing to fans' reactions online, with comments like 'Isn't this NewJeans?' and 'I thought I was looking at a NewJeans update.' Min even flagged choreography, saying ILLIT borrowed sequences from NewJeans' tracks like Attention and Ditto. Also read: Explained: Controversy and drama at Hybe, the K-pop company behind BTS BELIFT Lab fought back the accusations, telling the court that ILLIT's concept is nothing like NewJeans'. They argued that NewJeans leans into a retro Y2K aesthetic with no fixed storyline, while ILLIT follows a 'fantasy princess meets magical girl' theme with its own narrative and world-building. They also pointed out that ILLIT debuted through the reality show R U Next?, where fans saw the journey from day one. In contrast, NewJeans went for a surprise drop, no teasers, no names, just a music video out of the blue, which they called a completely different market strategy. On the hanbok controversy, the agency pushed back hard, saying plenty of K-pop idols have done hanbok shoots in palace backdrops and Min didn't invent the look. 'This claim is baseless and ignores the genre's visual traditions,' they said. As for the choreography, BELIFT Lab argued that moves like hair whips, arm rolls, and sitting poses are standard across K-pop. They cited acts like BTS, Jennie, aespa, G-Dragon, IVE, and ITZY. Letting one group claim ownership over these moves, they warned, would kill creativity and crush fair competition in the industry. While the two seemingly innocent bands are being dragged into the mess, what's really baffling fans is that they've got nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk is now under the scanner, with Korea's financial watchdogs investigating him for allegedly raking in illegal profits during HYBE's 2020 IPO. He skipped out on speaking at a recent hearing, and now it's all going to the prosecutors.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Where Have All the Girl Groups Gone_The K-pop Scene's Plot Twist No One Saw Coming
The Girl Group Drought-What Happened to All the Queens? If you're a K-pop fan who still remembers the days when every other song on your playlist was by a girl group, 2025 probably feels like a fever dream. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The once-glorious reign of girl groups on Korean charts has taken a wild turn. Except for the likes of IVE and aespa, most girl groups are barely making a dent in the charts this year. Even the much-hyped debuts and comebacks-ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM, and even rebranded veterans-just fizzled out faster than a WhatsApp group after board exams. On the last day of June, a rookie co-ed group, Allday Project, snagged the No. 1 spot on Melon's daily chart with their debut track "Famous." For context, Melon's chart is so hard to crack that even top-tier idols struggle. The fact that a rookie group-not a girl group-took the crown is basically the K-pop equivalent of an underdog IPL team winning the trophy on debut. Why Are Girl Groups Struggling? The Plot Thickens Let's break it down. Only four girl groups managed to enter the weekly Top 10 on major digital charts between January and June-and even then, it was mostly IVE and aespa holding the fort. IVE's "Rebel Heart" and "Attitude" were the rare bright spots, while aespa's "Drama" kept their name alive in the Top 10. LE SSERAFIM and BABYMONSTER barely scraped into the Top 10 for a week-blink and you'd miss them. Compare this to 2023, when NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, aespa, IVE, and others were battling it out, dominating more than half the top chart spots. Now? Rookie groups and mid-tier hopefuls like FIFTY FIFTY, H1-KEY, and KISS OF LIFE are nowhere to be seen. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even album sales-a huge deal in K-pop-are down. IVE's latest album sold about 1.04 million copies in its first week, a drop of 2.6 lakh from their previous release. LE SSERAFIM's new album? Down by 3 lakh copies compared to last time. Why the Sudden Fade? Blame the Vibe Shift What's behind this sudden girl group slump? Experts are pointing fingers at a bunch of things: Political drama and industry scandals : The endless headlines and beefs (looking at you, HYBE vs. Min Hee-jin) have left fans exhausted and less hyped about comebacks. : The endless headlines and beefs (looking at you, HYBE vs. Min Hee-jin) have left fans exhausted and less hyped about comebacks. Playing it safe : Many top girl groups have been dropping "safe" tracks-think less "OMG" and more "meh"-failing to grab attention like before. : Many top girl groups have been dropping "safe" tracks-think less "OMG" and more "meh"-failing to grab attention like before. Changing entertainment habits : With OTT, short-form videos, and sports content exploding, K-pop isn't the only game in town. Fans are more likely to catch their idols in a TikTok challenge than streaming their latest song on repeat. : With OTT, short-form videos, and sports content exploding, K-pop isn't the only game in town. Fans are more likely to catch their idols in a TikTok challenge than streaming their latest song on repeat. Global focus over local love: Agencies are chasing international fame (and rupees!) in the US, Japan, and Europe, sometimes at the cost of keeping Korean fans invested. It's a bit like when your favorite Bollywood stars start doing Hollywood movies-they get global, but sometimes you miss seeing them in your homegrown blockbusters. Going Global-Girl Groups Aren't Dead, They're Just Not Here Here's the twist: while girl groups are losing steam in Korea, they're blowing up internationally. Groups like BLACKPINK, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE are crushing it on the Billboard charts, selling out tours, and winning awards in Japan and the US. They're switching up concepts, dropping English tracks, and targeting global fandoms-no longer just the "cute" or "sexy" images for Korean male fans, but strong, independent vibes that resonate worldwide. So, while your favorite girl group might not be topping Melon this week, don't panic-they might just be headlining a festival in London or Tokyo instead. From a Desi Fan's Eyes-We Get It, Fandoms Change If you grew up watching your favorite cricket star get benched or your go-to Bollywood actress suddenly go MIA, you know how it feels when the spotlight shifts. K-pop's girl group drought hits hard, but it's also proof that music scenes evolve. Maybe it's time to check out that co-ed group everyone's talking about-or just wait for the next big comeback. After all, if there's one thing K-pop and Indian pop culture have in common, it's that nothing stays the same for long. P.S. Here's hoping for a girl group comeback that'll have us all streaming on loop again-just like the good old days.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Why some K-Pop acts, from Psy to aespa, take pay cuts for campus festivals
These events offer direct access to their core audience; people in their 20s. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM 42PSY42/INSTAGRAM Why some K-Pop acts, from Psy to aespa, take pay cuts for campus festivals SEOUL - May marks spring university festival season in South Korea — and no matter how packed their schedules are with world tours, music shows and fan-meets, K-pop stars make time for the campus stage. At Hongik University's spring festival which took place from May 14 to 16, big names like Psy, aespa, Lee Seungyoon, Beenzino and YB took to the stage. Konkuk University's lineup from May 20 to 22 featured Psy, aespa, Itzy, Jannabi and YB. Performing at Chung-Ang University's main festival from May 21 to 23, were aespa, NCT Dream, YB and Dynamic Duo. Despite the prestige of these appearances, university festival fees are generally lower than other commercial gigs. If a group normally earns 100 million won (S$94,000) per event, they may settle for 50 million to 80 million won at a university show. But money isn't the main incentive when it comes to college shows. Many K-pop agencies are willing to take a pay cut for the exposure and connection with younger audiences. In NewJeans' case, the group donated all its earnings from seven university festivals to the Korea Student Aid Foundation last year. Why do K-pop stars flock to the campus circuit come spring? It's simple: These events offer direct access to their core audience; people in their 20s. 'It's a rare opportunity for artists to connect with the general public, even those who aren't already fans,' an official from a major K-pop agency said on May 25. 'University festivals draw a young crowd, making them the ideal stage for artists to engage with new audiences and build buzz.' University festivals also serve as live practice ahead of world tours. 'Of all the stages, college campuses feel most like Lollapalooza or Coachella,' said former Ador chief executive Min Hee-jin last May. 'The students' energy inspires the members. It's a great opportunity to promote new songs, improve stage skills and give back to fans.' This year, Itzy — set to return with new music in June — has packed its schedule with campus appearances, including at SeoulTech, Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University and Inha University. Kiss of Life, another rising girl group, was confirmed for festivals at Yonsei, Sejong and Korea National Sport University. Going viral, for free The marketing payoff is enormous. Performing in front of a crowd of 10,000 turns thousands of smartphone cameras into instant PR tools. Well before the show ends, fancams, memes, Instagram Reels, TikToks and shorts are already circulating online. For agencies, it's mass marketing without spending a dime. 'In this age of one-person media, if the performance is strong, word-of-mouth spreads naturally,' the agency official added. For groups with strong live performance skills, these shows also act as unofficial public auditions. Their vocals, stage presence and crowd work are judged in real time by the most trend-sensitive demographic. If the performance hits the mark, casual viewers are quickly converted into dedicated fans. aespa, the hottest ticket on campus The most in-demand university act this year? Aespa. Although the girl group has no domestic comeback imminent, it headlined festivals at Hongik, Konkuk, Chung-Ang and Kyung Hee universities, reinforcing its influence across Korean campuses. Aespa's popularity continues despite not having released any new music in Korea since its fifth EP, 'Whiplash,' in October. Meanwhile, rumors of a June release are swirling, fueled by a leaked music video footage that began circulating on social media in early May. Rock bands hold their ground Even in the girl group-dominated landscape, rock bands are holding their own. YB (Yoon Do-hyun Band) performed at Konkuk, Hongik and Jeonbuk National universities. Jannabi, known for its festival-ready sound, will take the stage at Sejong, Dankook and Konkuk universities. Other buzzed-about names include Lucy, Silica Gel and The Volunteers (Nasanhyunssi Band). 'The festival crowd is overwhelmingly enthusiastic,' the agency official said. 'That energy fuels the performers and makes each show a valuable experience — both emotionally and professionally. ' THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
