• BELIFT LAB Initiates Legal Action Against ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin for Business Obstruction and Defamation

    ILLIT’s agency, BELIFT LAB, has filed a complaint against CEO Min Hee Jin of ADOR on May 22 (KST), alleging obstruction of business and defamation.

    According to BELIFT LAB, CEO Min Hee Jin’s unilateral dissemination of false information against the company and its artists has caused significant damage.

    The agency clarified that the plagiarism allegations made by CEO Min Hee Jin against their artist, ILLIT, are unfounded. BELIFT LAB has provided supporting evidence to judicial authorities to refute these claims and plans to pursue legal avenues to determine the truth.

    Highlighting the need for fair judgment based on reasonable standards and procedures regarding intellectual property plagiarism, BELIFT LAB expressed regret that the efforts and achievements of their artists are being undermined by baseless speculation and misinformation.

    Additionally, the agency addressed the detrimental impact of the situation on ILLIT’s members, who have been subjected to malicious comments, ridicule, and personal attacks.

    BELIFT LAB urged an end to slanderous attacks and the spread of false information targeting the artists.

    The dispute between HYBE and CEO Min Hee Jin escalated recently when accusations of breach of trust were made against CEO Min Hee Jin by HYBE, alleging an attempted usurpation of management rights.

    CEO Min Hee Jin countered by asserting that her concerns about ILLIT’s alleged plagiarism of ADOR’s NewJeans were legitimate and warranted an internal audit.

    During an emergency press conference, CEO Min Hee Jin clarified that her intent was not to slander ILLIT but to address concerns about the similarities between their production formulas.

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  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)