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Time of India
19-07-2025
- 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.
Pink Villa
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Sasaeng fan leaks ENHYPEN's Heesung's address, steals package days after dorm intrusion; Engenes demand action
ENHYPEN has once again fallen victim to the pervasive issue in K-pop industry– stalking and private information leaks by obsessive fans, commonly referred to as sasaengs. On July 4, member Heeseung's home address was leaked online. The issue occured just a few days after ENHYPEN's dorm was intruded by some individuals. As a response, fans are calling for better protection of the artists. Heeseung's address leaked online by ENHYPEN's sasaeng ENHYPEN's oldest member Heeseung recently faced serious breach of privacy after a sasaeng intercepted his package delivery, took photos of the address printed in the wrapper and spread it online. The incident occurred just a few days after some individuals were caught filming the members secretly at their dorm. They were apprehended at the scene and sent to the police station for questioning. Steps Engenes took to control the spread of Heesung's address online ENHYPEN's fandom Engenes reported the original post and shared it by blurring out Heeseung's address. They intended to let more people know about the mishap, without compromising personal details of the artists. Following that, they also created certain templates and mass shared it to help it reach the boy band's agency BELIFT LAB. Why are fans' bashing BELIFT LAB after Heeseung's address leaked online? Engenes felt it was needed "to hold the company accountable for consistently neglecting the well-being of the artists it depends on matters." They posted their demand with the hashtags "TREAT HEESEUNG BETTER", "BELIFTLABDoBetter" and "OneWithHEESEUNG." They are particularly upset because as per them, the agency should have taken strong security measures after a grave incident like a dorm invasion took place. Thus, they made a long list, citing their grievances and shared it online, hoping that would probe swift reaction from BELIFT LAB. Heeseung's past case of phone number leak by sasaeng In May 2025, Heeseung received 17 calls from an unknown individual during a live broadcast. Despite Heeseung's request to be left alone during the live broadcast, the person persisted in calling him, sparking frustration. As a result, his usual calm demeanor gave way to irritation as he urged the caller to stop, saying, "Don't call me, seriously!"
Hype Malaysia
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
BELIFT To Take Strong Legal Action After Sasaengs Trespass & Film ENHYPEN In Their Dorms
The world of fanatic fans knows no boundaries as each day we're greeted with a more insane version of how these individuals pose, threaten and trespass to encounter their idols. However, despite these incidents increasing over the years, safety measures to protect celebrities wear thin. BELIFT LAB issued a statement on the Korean Fandom app, Weverse, yesterday (30th June 2025) that they will be taking firm legal action towards individuals who want to harm their artists. This comes after growing concerns over malicious online behaviours and stalking crimes. The statement also revealed that ENHYPEN (엔하이픈) was filmed in their dorms after fans had illegally trespassed onto their premises. The statement by BELIFT LAB reads, 'Despite multiple official warnings requesting a halt to the invasion of our artists' privacy, the situation has not improved. In fact, the severity of the actions has worsened'. The statement continues by saying that the growing number of sasaeng (stalker) incidents has caused psychological and physical harm to the group, leaving the agency no choice but to respond strongly with legal means. Upon discovering the recent break-in to the dorms, a report was immediately filed with authorities under charges of unlawful entry and violation of the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes. The statement continues, saying that the suspects were arrested on the very same day, and the agency is working closely with authorities so that justice may be served. The agency also aims to take legal action towards malicious online activities that are aimed at harming ENHYPHEN, with proof collected by fans and a real-time monitoring system. 'We have collected substantial evidence of defamatory posts and comments that damage the honour and personal rights of our artists…We have filed official complaints with investigative authorities against all perpetrators involved'. BELIFT also raised concerns and will take legal action against individuals who forge documents and impersonate authorities to participate in concerts and fan events. The statement states that such actions harm other fans and hinder fair participation, which will be responded to with a lawsuit despite nationality. Sources: Allkpop, Twitter Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Pink Villa
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
ILLIT's deepfake creators arrested, BELIFT LAB probes legal action against other malicious defamers
ILLIT's agency, BELIFT LAB, shared an update regarding the concerning case of deepfake content targeting the girl group members. On June 30, they released an official statement regarding the arrest and sentencing of individuals behind the illicit activities. Their swift actions demonstrated their commitment to protecting their artists. Furthermore, they also mentioned working to put more such individuals behind bars. BELIFT LAB reveals no leniency towards ILLIT's deepfake content cretors ILLIT's agency, BELIFT LAB revealed that several perpetrators had been apprehended and sentenced to prison for creating and distributing deepfake content featuring ILLIT members. Since the girl group features some minors, it makes their proper protection even more necessary. The agency emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards online ab*se, stating that they will continue to pursue all legal avenues. They made it clear that there will be no settlements or leniency for those who spread false information, commit defamation, or engage in "s*xual insults" towards Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha. BELIFT LAB's next steps regarding protecting their artists The entertainment label mentioned their stance of continuously monitoring online platforms like Naver, YouTube, theqoo, Nate, X (formerly Twitter) and more, to locate more such offenders. They revealed filing regular complaints against defamation, and waiting for favourable response. "The identities and charges of these individuals have already been confirmed, and the cases have been forwarded to the prosecution," they stated. They added, "We will continue to make every effort to ensure severe punishment for those currently under investigation and legal proceedings." Fans were also encouraged to report violations through the HYBE Artist Rights Protection Reporting Center. These steps would aid BELIFT LAB in protecting its artists from malicious content. "Your support and active reporting are of great help in this process," they stated. Other K-pop artists who faced similar deepfake content trouble K-pop stars being the target of malicious content seemed to have grown lately. Besides ILLIT, several other HYBE subsidiaries like ENHYPEN, BTS and LE SSERAFIM have faced similar unfavorable situations since April. In response, HYBE has taken swift and decisive legal action to safeguard its artists, earning appreciation from fans for their bold and effective measures against the perpetrators.
Pink Villa
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
ENHYPEN's dorm trespassed by multiple sasaeng fans, intruders caught red-handed while secretly recording members
BELIFT LAB, HYBE Labels subsidiary, has responded with a strong legal stance following a disturbing case of privacy invasion involving ENHYPEN. In an official statement, the agency revealed that multiple unidentified individuals unlawfully entered the boy group's private dormitory. 'Despite multiple warnings, repeated intrusions into our artists' privacy have continued and worsened,' the statement read. They attempted to secretly record the members. The incident, which has since sparked outrage across fandom communities, was immediately reported to local authorities. Intruders caught in the act and arrested BELIFT LAB confirmed that the individuals involved in the incident were apprehended at the scene. The agency swiftly contacted law enforcement, resulting in the immediate arrest of the trespassers. They are now under active investigation for violating multiple laws. They include illegal trespassing and provisions under South Korea's Stalking Punishment Act. The statement emphasized that entering a private residence without permission, especially with the intent to capture unauthorized footage, is a grave offense. BELIFT LAB made it clear that it is fully cooperating with the police to ensure the individuals responsible face appropriate legal consequences. 'We are actively cooperating with the investigation process to ensure that the suspects are appropriately punished in accordance with the relevant laws,' the company stated. Stronger measures against sasaeng behavior This latest event has reignited concerns about sasaeng fans. It's a term used for those who engage in dangerous, obsessive behavior toward idols. This includes stalking, following them in private settings, and gathering personal information through illegal means. The agency noted that the recent break-in is part of a worrying pattern that poses serious threats to artist safety. In response, the agency reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against such conduct and vowed to reinforce preventive measures. It also urged fans to respect boundaries and refrain from behaviors that violate the rights and well-being of artists. Cracking down on illegal sale of personal data In addition to addressing the dormitory invasion, BELIFT LAB revealed ongoing efforts to combat the illegal trade of artists' private information. The agency stated that it is actively tracking online platforms, especially foreign websites. There, individuals engage in the buying, selling, or fabrication of idols' personal data. 'Repeated contact and visits to private locations induce fear and cause serious harm,' the agency stressed. The company shared that it has begun taking legal steps against such operations. It includes reporting those involved to Chinese authorities and pursuing charges when necessary. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to protect artists from digital threats and identity violations. Fan reactions The news of the incident triggered an immediate and intense reaction from ENHYPEN fans. Social media platforms are flooded with messages expressing concern for the group's safety. They are frustrated over the ongoing issue of sasaeng invasions. Many called on HYBE to increase security measures and adopt even more aggressive legal strategies to protect the members. Fans have also shown support for ENHYPEN, demanding that those who breach the artists' personal space be held fully accountable.
