Min Hee-jin Accused of Pre-planning 'Chart Manipulation Frame' Against ILLIT Before Debut

Strong allegations have emerged in court suggesting that Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, had prepared a 'chart manipulation frame' against the girl group ILLIT, managed by fellow HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab, even before their debut.

During the second hearing of the lawsuit filed by Min Hee-jin and two others against HYBE regarding the exercise of put options, held at the Seoul Central District Court on the afternoon of the 11th, evidence was presented that pointed to such pre-planning. HYBE's Chief Legal Officer, Jung Jin-soo, revealed documents obtained during an audit of ADOR.

These documents, including 'Project 1945' and VP work notes, allegedly contained entries like 'LE SSERAFIM 2/19' and 'ILLIT 3/25', which Jung testified referred to LE SSERAFIM's comeback date and ILLIT's debut date, respectively. He argued that this indicated an intention to target ILLIT with a negative narrative before they even officially launched.

Min Hee-jin countered that the claims of ILLIT copying NewJeans originated from online communities and discussions that began around the time ILLIT's teaser photos were released. She emphasized that these were not solely her personal assertions but reflections of public discourse. However, HYBE's legal team asserted that the 'frame' being referred to was not about plagiarism, but about the alleged pre-meditated setup of a negative narrative concerning chart manipulation targeting ILLIT prior to their debut.

Min Hee-jin is a prominent figure in the K-pop industry, known for her innovative concepts and exceptional producing skills. She successfully launched the girl group NewJeans and has been involved in conceptualizing and producing for numerous hit groups prior to her current role. Her current public profile is largely defined by the ongoing management dispute with HYBE, drawing significant media attention.