Kim Tae Ho, the CEO of BELIFT LAB, has denied the plagiarism accusations involving ILLIT and NewJeans during a recent National Assembly hearing.

On October 24th, Kim appeared as a witness at the audit to address several issues, including claims of HYBE's alleged manipulation of album sales and the plagiarism controversy surrounding ILLIT and NewJeans.

During the session, Democratic Party representative Min Hyung Bae asked about album sales practices, saying, “Are you aware of the issue regarding album sales manipulation? Some albums were sold under specific conditions, like fan sign events and lucky draws.”

In response, Kim explained, “Earlier this year, concerns were raised, and we conducted an internal audit. We confirmed that only a small percentage of albums sold in 2023 were returnable, and we did not sell any albums under return conditions. We’ve since updated our company guidelines.”

When asked about the impact of such sales, Kim said, "We understand the concerns, but there was no market disruption. The number of albums sold with return options wasn’t enough to cause any major market interference.”

Representative Min also brought up the plagiarism claims, asking, “What is your stance on the allegations that BELIFT LAB plagiarized NewJeans?”

Kim firmly denied the accusations, stating, "It’s not true. We’ve already filed lawsuits against former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, and we plan to reveal the truth through legal channels.”

Kim concluded by apologizing for the situation, saying, “I deeply regret the stress this has caused. As an entertainment company, our goal is to bring joy to the public, and I will do everything possible to prevent issues like this from happening again.”

Sources: [1]

Kim Jae Joong couldn’t hold back his tears as he experienced an emotional moment with his father.

On April 4, the KBS 2TV show "New Menu Launching: Pyeon Restaurant" aired a heartwarming episode where Kim Jae Joong, the youngest of nine siblings, threw a special celebration for his parents’ 60th wedding anniversary.

The star took charge of everything—planning, organizing, and hosting the event—as a grand gesture to show his gratitude for everything his parents had done for him and his siblings.

Kim Jae Joong rented a luxurious banquet hall at a five-star hotel for the celebration. He made sure to select food that would please all of his family, including his parents and siblings.

With his large family in attendance, the venue was filled with love and joy. Kim Jae Joong’s nine siblings all bowed deeply to thank their parents for raising them, showing immense respect and love.

As his father saw all of his children gathered in one place, he couldn’t help but express his pride, saying, “Are all these really my children?” But his emotions quickly took a turn as he shared his feelings of regret. “I feel sorry that I couldn’t do better for you, I’m sorry I couldn’t do as much as others did. But I’m so thankful that you all grew up so well,” he said, with tears starting to form in his eyes.

It was the first time Kim Jae Joong had seen his father cry. Overcome with emotion, he said, “I know my father’s life very well, so I couldn’t help but cry too.” The entire family shared in the tears, shouting, “We love you, Dad,” creating an unforgettable moment that moved everyone to tears.

The touching episode aired on April 4 at 8:30 PM, showing viewers the deep love and gratitude Kim Jae Joong and his siblings have for their parents.

Source (1)