Min Hee-jin Wins Lawsuit as She Moves Forward With New Boy Group
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has won a damages lawsuit connected to her 2024 claims that BELIFT LAB’s girl group ILLIT had similarities to NewJeans.
The Seoul court ruled against the plaintiff in a $72,000 damages case filed by a creative director affiliated with BELIFT LAB against Min Hee-jin and former ADOR deputy CEO Shin.
The ruling was issued on August 21, 2026, and became final after the plaintiff decided not to appeal.
Court Says the Individual Was Not Clearly Identified
The lawsuit stemmed from statements Min Hee-jin made in April 2024, when she publicly raised allegations concerning similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans during a press conference and in a written statement.
The BELIFT LAB creative director argued that the statements damaged their reputation and subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking damages.
However, the court determined that the individual’s name, position or other identifying information had not been mentioned in Min’s statements or during the press conference.
As a result, the court concluded that it was difficult to establish that the plaintiff had been specifically identified as the target of the statements.
The decision has now become final following the plaintiff’s decision not to appeal.
Another Lawsuit Is Still Pending
The latest ruling does not bring an end to the broader legal dispute between Min Hee-jin and BELIFT LAB.
BELIFT LAB has separately filed a much larger damages lawsuit against Min, reportedly seeking more than $1.44 million.
That case is still ongoing, with a ruling scheduled for November 13, 2026.
The two cases are separate legal proceedings, meaning the recent $72,000 lawsuit ruling does not determine the outcome of the larger case.
Min Hee-jin Begins a New Chapter
Despite the continuing legal disputes, Min Hee-jin has also been moving forward with new projects in the music industry.
She recently established a new label called OK Records and has begun preparations to launch a new boy group.
The move marks a new direction for Min as an independent producer following her time at ADOR, where she played a major role in developing NewJeans.
Her next project is expected to attract considerable attention, particularly as the music industry watches how she approaches a new group outside of ADOR.
For now, Min Hee-jin’s legal battles remain ongoing, while her new label and upcoming boy group represent another major chapter in her career as a producer.