The Seoul Central District Court has officially ruled that ILLIT did not copy NewJeans. During the verdict delivered on October 30th, 2025, Judge Jung Hoe Il of the Civil Division 41 stated that while there may be similarities between both groups, it’s “difficult to view ILLIT as a replication of NewJeans.” It was explained that a girl group’s concept cannot be protected under intellectual property rights, effectively dismissing NewJeans’ claims of imitation.
It was noted that ADOR, led by CEO Min Hee Jin at the time, had previously sent an official letter to ILLIT’s agency, Belift Lab, addressing the issue, proving that ADOR did not ignore the matter. In the same ruling, the court announced that NewJeans’ exclusive contracts with ADOR, signed in 2022, remain valid, tying the group to the company until 2029. However, the quintet’s lawyers announced plans to appeal the court’s decision.
During a recent injunction hearing, Min HeeJin provided alleged evidence from a HYBE employee that ILLIT’s creative director requested NewJeans’ planning document and made an identical plan for ILLIT. pic.twitter.com/jaaw4dwyGL
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 11, 2024
This decision marks another chapter in the tense ADOR–NewJeans legal feud, which began in November of last year when NewJeans announced they would terminate their contracts over a “breakdown of trust” and rebranded as NJZ. The agency quickly acted with a lawsuit in December 2024, blocking the group’s decision to exit the company. This time, the court’s ruling reinforces ADOR’s position, but NewJeans will continue to fight and appeal the decision.
