The HYBE vs Min Hee Jin feud reached another level on September 11th, 2025, when HYBE presented new evidence in court. According to their lawyers, Min allegedly plotted a smear campaign against groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT for chart manipulation, even before ILLIT debuted. The most shocking part? Min Hee Jin and their team reportedly trying to find proof of NewJeans‘ imitation from any of the other girl groups being formed.
The evidence includes a document called “Project 1945,” drafted in March 2024, which reportedly mapped out how to accuse ILLIT of chart manipulation. Meeting notes with NewJeans’ parents from the same month suggest discussions on how to push a “public opinion campaign,” including making controversies and leaking info to reporters. HYBE claims Min also sent staff messages like, “We’re preparing public opinion warfare.”
Fans haven’t stayed silent after this revelation. Many rushed to defend ILLIT, saying they never deserved to be dragged into industry beef. Others slammed the alleged plan as desperate and toxic. The case continues to unfold, with NewJeans themselves going through their own legal feud with HYBE’s ADOR. The quintet and the company haven’t settled in court, causing a judge to rule the final verdict on October 30th.