ADOR, a subsidiary of South Korea’s entertainment powerhouse HYBE, is in the spotlight over allegations of plagiarism involving NewJeans’ upcoming track “Bubble Gum” and a 42-year-old song from a British band.
The K-pop industry is on high alert following claims made by ADOR’s CEO Min Hee Jin, who alleges that ILLIT, a fresh girl group under HYBE’s BELIFT LAB, has copied NewJeans. NewJeans is gearing up for their comeback with “Bubble Gum,” set to drop on May 24 KST.
Recent chatter on YouTube and online communities has drawn comparisons between NewJeans’ “Bubble Gum” and the 1982 track “Easier Said Than Done” by British jazz punk band Shakatak. The comments section is heating up with debates over the striking similarities and potential plagiarism claims.
The composer behind “Bubble Gum” is no stranger to creating hits for NewJeans, having previously worked on “Attention,” “Hype Boy,” and “Ditto.”
ADOR has yet to break their silence on the controversy. Industry insiders say there’s no evidence to suggest that the song in question was sampled.
During an April 25 press conference, CEO Min made her stance clear, stating, “ILLIT is mirroring NewJeans in various aspects, from hair and makeup to choreography and visuals.”
She stressed ADOR’s position against any unauthorized copying of NewJeans’ achievements by any party, including HYBE and BELIFT LAB, adding, “This isn’t about defaming ILLIT; it’s about responsible adults. Each group should maintain its unique identity, as simply imitating NewJeans could harm their individuality.”
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