NewJeans’ parents allegedly speak out against HYBE in newly released letter
In a shocking email, the parents of the K-pop group NewJeans accuse the BTS label, giving the HYBE vs. ADOR conflict a new twist. Korean media outlets claimed that HYBE and its officials had mistreated the K-Pop singers after it was reported that the parent label had appointed a new CEO for its subsidiary. The girls’ family has taken legal action, alleging that Bang Si Hyuk purposefully ignored the members’ greetings.
On May 13, Ilgan Sports published a shocking report detailing an email from NewJeans’ parents, originally addressed to CEO Min Hee Jin and then forwarded to BelIFT LAB (JCM’s joint venture with Big Hit Entertainment) about ILLIT’s debut. The email explains the parents’ comments and worries regarding ILLIT’s debut, which were brought to light by NewJeans members’ parents and legal representatives.
The founder of BigHit Music, who oversees BTS, is accused of copying NewJeans’ idea for another group. Parents have also questioned Belift Lab’s motives, claiming the company ridiculed NewJeans and did not check their content properly. Parents further claim Bang Si Hyuk purposefully ignored the members when they greeted them.
The email reads, “Whenever the NewJeans members encountered Bang Si Hyuk in the company building, we wondered why Bang Si Hyuk would pretend not to recognize the members and turn a blind eye to their greetings. At first, we didn’t believe our children, thinking, ‘Oh, he probably just didn’t recognize you then,’ so we attempted to verify this.”
The parents added, “However, since this issue has happened several times, with different dates and locations, even when it was just Bang Si Hyuk and the members, we believe there is no other possibility except recognizing that they are, in fact, NewJeans.”
The parents also alleged that HYBE copied NewJeans’ ideas for their new girl group ILLIT, including photography, style, dancing and music video esthetics. The report points out the remarkable and uncanny similarities between ILLIT’s ideas and those of NewJeans.
“Is there no intention to protect NewJeans and each member’s brand value within HYBE? The reason why these issues are not groundless is because there have been too many ridiculous situations.”
