As tensions rise between HYBE and ADOR, ILLIT's creative director, Heo Se Ryun, has stirred controversy by posting a photo on Instagram that many believe is a direct jab at ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.

On April 25, Heo Se Ryun shared a photo of a raised middle finger on her Instagram story. The photo, taken by photographer Mok Jung Wook, was posted without any caption.

Notably, the post coincided with Min Hee Jin's press conference, amplifying its impact and leading to speculation that Director Heo was expressing her frustration at Min Hee Jin's claim that ILLIT is simply "a copy of NewJeans."

In the meantime, HYBE has initiated an audit of CEO Min Hee Jin and another executive, identified as A, for allegedly trying to seize control of ADOR and has called for CEO Min's resignation.

In response, CEO Min has categorically denied these allegations, arguing that the dispute began when HYBE's subsidiary, Belift Lab, launched ILLIT, mirroring NewJeans' concept.

Korean netizens have commented:

"She did copy NewJeans, why is she behaving like this?"

"She should feel ashamed."

"People have been saying ILLIT is similar to NewJeans."

"She's acting so immature."

"I'm starting to dislike ILLIT because of her."

"The reason Min Hee Jin got upset is because of ILLIT. I don't think they would have fought if it wasn't for ILLIT copying NewJeans."

"It's amusing how she posted such a cute finger to say 'f u.'"

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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