(LEAD) Ex-ADOR CEO referred to prosecution for defamation over Illit plagiarism remarks
SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- Police have referred former ADOR chief executive Min ...
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly defaming the agency of K-pop girl group Illit, according to sources. Min is accused of making false statements during a press conference in April 2024, claiming that Illit plagiarized NewJeans, a girl group produced by her company Belift Lab. Belift Lab had filed a complaint against Min the following month, accusing her of spreading false information to slander their agency and its parent company, Hybe.
The referral to the prosecution came after the Seoul Yongsan Police Station recommended charges of defamation and obstruction of business against Min on October 1, 2024. This decision comes in the wake of a court ruling in March 2025 that deemed it difficult to view Illit as plagiarizing NewJeans, as the court granted ADOR an injunction to ban its members' independent activities.
However, Min's lawyer criticized the police referral, arguing that it contradicts earlier investigative findings and a related civil ruling, highlighting inconsistencies between the police's actions and previous decisions.
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