Overview

• BELIFT LAB is seeking 2 billion KRW in reputational damages after Min Hee-Jin accused rookie group ILLIT of copying NewJeans’ debut concept, choreography and styling
• In the July 18 hearing at Seoul Western District Court, ILLIT’s agency cited moves and visuals from BTS, Jennie and aespa to argue that hair whips, arm rolls and sitting poses reflect common K-pop conventions
• Min Hee-Jin told the judge that ILLIT’s hanbok-themed photoshoot mirrored NewJeans in lighting, props, set design and framing and claimed the group lifted sequences from songs like “Attention” and “Ditto”
• The court instructed both parties to summarize their legal arguments in no more than 30 PowerPoint slides ahead of the next session
• Min Hee-Jin was cleared of breach-of-trust charges by Seoul’s Yongsan Police on July 15 and the ongoing plaintiffs’ suit highlights deeper creative and governance tensions within HYBE’s multi-label structure