On May 23, a topic titled “ILLIT admitted to plagiarism” was published on the Korean forum Pann Nate, attracting almost 130,000 views.
The topic attached an article published back in April 19, and included a segment where HYBE disclosed the inspiration behind ILLIT.
In particular, this segment said that HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si-hyuk was in charge as ILLIT producer and led the project on the girl group’s debut song “Magnetic”. He also collaborated with teenage producers and incorporated a “kitsch” and “girlish” vibe into easy-to-listen melodies. It was also said that ILLIT members followed the popular formula by wearing Y2K fashion, including long straight hair, large denim pants, checked shirts, and skirts that hung around the hips and shorts.
Additionally, it was stated that ILLIT utilized choreography points from senior groups in HYBE, including a step from LE SSERAFIM’s “Easy” and the hair-flicking movement and hand rotation move in NewJeans’ “Attention” and “Ditto”.
Upon reading this article, netizens have flooded the topic with criticisms towards HYBE, and below are some comments from netizens:
- HYBE are always trying to pit the public against NewJeans and Min Hee-jin to the point where it is ridiculous. They are even targeting Minji with the kalguksu comments.
- So they are eating their own words… They directly admitted to using move to NewJeans and now they file a lawsuit?
- The hair flipping from “Attention” is literally a signature NewJeans move… And NewJeans was a new group, but they just gave it to a new group just like that?
- HYBE is so desperate in media play they are digging up groups from 20 years ago just to drag NewJeans
- They basically admitted to the plagiarism LOL
