Belift Lab, the label managing K-pop group ILLIT under HYBE, has filed a lawsuit against the operator of Team Bunnies, a NewJeans fan group, seeking 100 million won in damages over defamation claims.
The civil lawsuit was submitted on Monday to the Seoul Western District Court, naming the unidentified operator of Team Bunnies and the operator's parents as defendants. Belift Lab alleges that Team Bunnies repeatedly posted false information claiming ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans' creative concept, causing significant damage to the group's reputation and the label's business interests, per The Korea Herald.
The dispute dates back to November 2024. The fan group previously attempted to pursue criminal charges against Belift Lab CEO Kim Tae-ho. Their complaint was a reaction to Kim's public dismissal of the idea that ILLIT copied NewJeans; he insisted the creative directions for the two groups were distinct. The fan manager alleged they possessed leaked voice recordings and internal proposals that demonstrated otherwise.
However, the allegations face legal setbacks. During a recent court case involving NewJeans members seeking to confirm the validity of their exclusive contract with ADOR, the court determined "it is difficult to acknowledge that ILLIT replicated NewJeans' concept."
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Belift Lab's complaint also addresses additional concerns beyond the plagiarism claims. The label contends that Team Bunnies illegally obtained and disclosed confidential internal planning documents related to ILLIT. Additionally, the company questions the legitimacy of Team Bunnies' actions in filing what it describes as a malicious criminal complaint.
Team Bunnies initially presented itself as a coalition of professionals in legal, media, finance, and cultural fields when it launched in September 2024. The group gained attention for raising more than 50 million won online in October 2024, claiming funds would support legal action against posts targeting NewJeans.
The fundraising effort drew scrutiny from authorities. The operator who appeared for police questioning was revealed to be a minor, known as A. After the investigation revealed the group failed to complete required registration procedures, Team Bunnies acknowledged in November that it was "a one-person organization operated by a single minor member" and apologized for operating an unregistered donation system.
