The Legal Showdown Between NEW JEANS, MIN HEE JIN, and HYBE

In the latest saga gripping the K-pop world, the members of NEW JEANS and their former CEO Min Hee-jin find themselves embroiled in a tumultuous legal battle with their parent company, HYBE.

Be:Lift Lab and Source Music had their first hearing in their defamation case against Min Hee-jin. It’s not really about plagiarism per se, but whether New Jeans Mama used plagiarism accusations against ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM to damage the girl groups brand and advertising deals.

As of early 2025, the dispute continues with no clear resolution. Min Hee-jin has resigned from ADOR and is pursuing legal action against HYBE, while NEW JEANS has set up independent activities, including new social media engagements to maintain direct communication with fans.

This legal drama between NEW JEANS, Min Hee-jin, and HYBE is far from over, with significant implications for the artists involved and the broader K-pop landscape.