Min Hee-jin's New Agency Logo Becomes Evidence in ILLIT Plagiarism Case

BELIFT LAB Cites OOAK Similarity Controversy in Court Defense

Min Hee-jin's newly established entertainment agency OOAK has unexpectedly become a focal point in the ongoing plagiarism lawsuit involving ILLIT. During the fourth hearing of the damages lawsuit, BELIFT LAB's legal team used similarities between OOAK's branding and an existing company as a counterargument against plagiarism accusations.

Court Hearing Highlights Broader Industry Patterns

On November 14, the Seoul Western District Court held the fourth hearing for the 2 billion won damages lawsuit filed by BELIFT LAB against former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Both legal teams presented their arguments through PowerPoint presentations.

BELIFT LAB's legal representatives from Kim & Chang argued that similarity controversies are natural in the K-pop industry. They noted that female idol concepts are generally limited to innocent or girl crush styles, making overlaps inevitable. The lawyers pointed out that even NewJeans faced comparisons to previous groups, with some critics noting similarities to Japanese girl group styling and logo designs.

OOAK Branding Controversy Referenced

The legal team specifically mentioned Min's recently established agency OOAK, which faced criticism for similarities to "One of a Kind," a Canadian handicraft company with 50 years of history. Both companies use thumbprint logos and the abbreviation "ooak," creating notable visual and conceptual parallels.

BELIFT LAB's representatives argued that Min acted to maximize personal interests without hesitation in attacking other idol groups, particularly targeting ILLIT due to its relatively smaller fanbase. They claimed that while working at ADOR, Min consulted with Sejong Law Firm about the ILLIT plagiarism issue, allegedly being told that legal action would be difficult but a media campaign was possible.

Defense Arguments and Timeline

Min's legal team countered by presenting captured comments from online communities showing that the public, media, and critics raised plagiarism concerns first after ILLIT's debut. They emphasized that discussion of similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans comprised only about five minutes of a two-hour press conference.

The defense argued that using terms like "copy" or "plagiarism" should not automatically constitute copyright infringement or false defamation, asserting that similarities between the groups are evident.

Background and Future Proceedings

The legal battle stems from Min's April 2024 press conference where she accused BELIFT LAB of plagiarizing NewJeans' concept for ILLIT. BELIFT LAB filed the 2 billion won lawsuit in June 2024, calling her statements false defamation. Min countersued for 5 billion won in November of the same year.

The fifth hearing in this damages lawsuit is scheduled for January 9, 2025.