NewJeans members (from left) Hyein, Haerin, Hanni, Danielle, and Minji. Image: Courtesy of ADOR
The parents of female quintet NewJeans expressed their dismay towards K-pop giant HYBE for allegedly mistreating the girl group and “damaging their name value” through a letter, as obtained by Korean media.
Amid the ongoing feud between HYBE and its sub-label All Doors One Room (ADOR), Korean media outlet Ilgan Sports on May 13 revealed a letter that was forwarded by ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin to the K-pop behemoth, which apparently came from the parents of NewJeans in March.
“As the parents and legal guardians of Kim Minji, Hanni Pham, Kang Haerin, Marsh Danielle, and Lee Hyein of NewJeans… we express deep concern over the controversy that has risen with many similarities in concept (photos, music video, etc.), styling, choreography, etc. between NewJeans and a group that debuted under another label of HYBE,” the letter read, per a Soompi translation.
Without mentioning ILLIT’s name, the quintet’s parents called out HYBE and its sub-label Belift Lab for “intentional imitation” in planning a “team” that is “reminiscent” of NewJeans’ debut “within just one year and eight months since [their] debut.”
HYBE has responded to the allegations of “neglect and plagiarism,” saying these are “one-sided and not true.”
Among the topics touched on in the ongoing feud between both Korean music agencies are the alleged similarities between NewJeans and ILLIT.
“We question the rationale behind such irrational planning within the same company although it is common sense for teams with different characteristics to target different markets especially when the debuts are not far apart,” the letter said. “If these situations continue, this will undoubtedly damage NewJeans’s reputation and brand value.”
“As the public criticizes similarities between the two teams and various controversies are created, the members are experiencing severe mental distress in this process in which NewJeans’ achievements until now can be damaged… Do Belift Lab [and] HYBE have any intention of protecting the brand value of NewJeans and each of its members,” it continued.
Bang’s alleged disregard of NewJeans
The letter also touched on HYBE chairperson Bang Si-hyuk allegedly “ignoring” and not practicing “basic courtesy” towards Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein “whenever he ran into them at the company.”
Apart from being HYBE’s chairperson, Bang is the founder of BigHit Music and HYBE, a music producer, and was one of the key persons behind the formation of K-pop megastars BTS.
“We had doubts when we heard from the children, ‘He must not have recognized us,’ and asked them again several times. However, this happened on several occasions, and as there were times when they ran into him alone on different dates and different locations, he must have recognized the members to be NewJeans,” the letter read.
NewJeans’ parents then expressed their dismay regarding the girl group “blindly waiting” after they were initially promised to be “HYBE’s first girl group,” before the title ultimately went to Source Music’s LE SSERAFIM.
“It has become clear through various incidents that HYBE does not respect NewJeans, which worries us about how HYBE will exploit NewJeans in the future and what they will imitate next,” it added.
HYBE’s response
On the same day, HYBE responded to the report of the alleged letter while asserting that it replied to their concerns last April 16, as it pointed out that such concerns of “neglect and plagiarism” are “one-sided and not true.”
“We find it very unfortunate that Min Hee-jin is using an old-fashioned practice as she drags in artists and their families in her own battles,” HYBE told Korean media outlet MK Sports via a Soompi translation. “We have evidence that the act of sending emails attacking HYBE was part of the plan for the takeover of management rights and her personal gain from the start.”
The K-pop giant then called out Min for “using NewJeans parents” to “raise issues,” while reiterating that it would be used as “evidence” for investigation by authorities.
“We cannot help but express our dismay at Min Hee Jin’s behavior, using artists as shields for her personal gain and even putting their parents at the forefront. We urge her not to mislead public opinion and to exercise restraint to protect the value of the artists,” it added.
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