Belif Lab and Source Music lose 2 billion won damages lawsuit against Min Hee-jin in first trial (comprehensive)

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Ji-su and Lee Tae-soo = Belif Lab, a label under Hive, lost the first trial of a damages lawsuit filed against Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Adore.

The court ruled that former CEO Min's statement that Belif Lab's girl group Aylit plagiarized Adore's New Jeans amounted to an expression of subjective opinion.

On the 13th, Seoul Western District Court's Civil Agreement Division 12 (Chief Judge Kim Jin-young) ruled that the plaintiff lost the 2 billion won damages claim lawsuit filed by Belif Lab against former CEO Min Hee-jin.

The court did not accept Belif Lab's argument, believing that former CEO Min's statement to the effect that 'Aillet copied New Genes in areas such as hair, makeup, and choreography' was an expression of subjective opinion rather than a record of facts.

In addition, even if this statement was viewed as factual, it was considered to be within the permitted range of freedom of expression considering social interest, etc.

The court also dismissed a counterclaim worth 5 billion won filed by former CEO Min against Belif Lab. The legal costs were to be borne by the entity that filed each lawsuit.

Former CEO Min raised suspicions that the girl group Aillet copied New Jeans through a press conference in April 2024.

Belif Lab filed a lawsuit claiming that former CEO Min's remarks were false and defamatory.

Meanwhile, Source Music also lost a lawsuit worth 500 million won in damages filed by Source Music, claiming that former CEO Min Hee-jin's claims regarding New Genes' debut were false.

Former CEO Min also claimed that Source Music neglected the New Genes members when they were trainees.

Some of the New Jeans members are former Source Music trainees.

The court judged that this statement was also difficult to view as revealing false facts.

He added, "Even if this statement lowered Source Music's social evaluation, it is for the public interest and is not illegal."

Former CEO Min Hee-jin, who raised the 'suspicion of plagiarism', was sued separately from this civil suit and handed over to the Public Prosecution Office on charges of obstruction of business and defamation last October.

Regarding winning both lawsuits on this day, former CEO Min said, "The plaintiff has repeatedly committed impure actions, including multiple trial delays and changes in the cause of claim, with no intention of proceeding quickly with the lawsuit from the beginning," and added, "We believe that the judiciary has made a common sense judgment regarding the unreasonable legal attack and shifting responsibility."

He added, "The so-called 'strategic blockade lawsuit' filed with absurd content should no longer have a foothold in the industry. With this ruling, we will put an end to this wasteful controversy and act resolutely based on principles to create a healthy industry environment."

Meanwhile, Belif Lab and Source Music, two labels under Hive, opposed the ruling and announced their intention to appeal.

Belif Lab said, “It is very regrettable that the ruling was made to the effect that there are victims but not the perpetrators,” and argued, “If the facts of the victims and perpetrators are clear, if we hastily grant forgiveness on the grounds of ‘expressing opinions’ or ‘rhetorical expressions,’ second and third victims will continue to arise.”

At the same time, they claimed, "The investigative agency forwarded former CEO Min's remarks as a recommendation for indictment, and our company submitted a decision to forward the case and requested to resume the defense, but it was not accepted. We did not even have the opportunity to receive a hearing on the newly secured and submitted decisive evidence. We will immediately appeal and seek a decision from a higher court."

Source Music also said, "Even though the evidence we submitted clearly points to the truth, we feel sad and helpless as we face the reality of not being protected by the law. Former CEO Min's reckless and false remarks have caused enormous damage to the label, which has absolute trust between trainees and artists. We will immediately appeal to correct the unfairness of the first trial ruling, protect artists, and make every effort to uncover the objective truth."