As a kpop fan all I gotta say is we have no right to get involved with idols private life period...

there are too many kpop artists who are not even getting a chance to chart. instead churning out more artists like factory products, music agencies should look at what's already available -- many of the groups have talented individual artists as well that should be given a chance to have their solo debuts. and yes, kpop groups tend to sound and look alike, especially among the kpop girl groups -- with the exception of a few standouts in kpop boy groups like stray kids, bts, and shinee. even the issues of "plagiarism" -- it's not picked up by the k-press, but abroad, many have noticed that min heejin practically copied the japanese girl group speed from 1996. the reality is, there are no true originals in kpop. all their "looks" depend on their "concepts" and their "concepts" depend on the music "eras" of their groups. so eventually, elements of these "looks" and "concepts" will be repeated somehow. it happens a lot in the western fashion industry, when designs are recycled every so often, but no one accuses designers of "plagiarism." kpop itself isn't entirely original either. musicologists have pointed out that kpop is inspired by western pop, particularly american and european styles, blending pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic dance music, and traditional korean elements. so accusations of "plagiarism" based on "looks" and "concepts" among kpop groups are a joke -- it would only truly be a big deal if music content were alike.

I know a lot of women resonate with MHJ, but I feel she is hurting the cause more than helping. Many women work very hard and don’t get equal treatment, MHJ was handed a label to run. Sure, she works hard, but if she is criminally undermining her employer, that is very different than what the majority of women are going through in their workplace. NJ sounds like many other girl groups past and present. That doesn’t mean they aren’t talented, it’s just a style that has been done to death. Le Sserafim at least was unique, I would have debuted them first too. It was a business decision.

professor is so knowledgable and provided very insightful opinions

What is the criest thing? "You plagiarism my original concept work! (which i copied from 90's and 80's) but i can copy other country artist songs 42 years ago or their old concept and not liable to them coz it becomes my original WORK or i bring that style in korean music". WHAAAAAAT???!

Thank you for your content, which I think is mainly unbiased which is refreshing. Sorry this will be a long post. I was introduced to K Pop in general through BTS which I think you will find the majority of global K Pop fans have. From the Hybe /Minjee issue the majority of global fans cannot understand what’s happening in Korea currently. To us Hybe is sighting irregularities in business and MHJ is sighting plagiarism, which to us does not make sense as we have seen the Japanese group and 1st and 2nd Korean girl groups with a similar concept, it is recycling a trend which is prevalent in music and fashion. Why is there more news from Korea reporting the allegations of plagiarism and a poor woman battling a big corporation rather than the actual issue which is business related? Did she plan to take control of Ador and has she implemented her plan to reflect negative press on Hybe and its artists to reduce the stock value. The majority of global fans are happy to wait and see the results of the board meeting and relevant court cases to make judgement. Yet, we witness a blatant massive attack on Hybe and its artists since the press conference, one of MHJ’s plans. BTS has probably one of the strongest fan base which contains fans from several generations seeing an attack on BTS while they cannot defend themselves as they are serving their country in the military. The majority of Interest in K Pop, South Korea and your culture is solely because of BTS influence. BTS are proudly serving Korea which they have promoted for years and are now witnessing their country lapping up negative press they are receiving, yet, at the same time Koreans do not seem to understand the condemnation from the global fans. I think this issue is having a huge detrimental effect on K Pop and their artists globally. To instigate an investigation into a case which they have already proven innocent in, and to the many people that have jumped on the wagon of hate, has made BTS fans feel distressed at their condemnation by their own country. Other points of the news presented, I agree with Walter, fans are ridiculous in their obsession with the idols private life. Global stars have the freedom to marry, divorce, have affairs and fans do not worry about their private lives, it’s their music that count. I also agree that agencies are not realising that quality comes before quantity. As far as singing and dancing at the same time to practically the same as recordings, BTS have been doing it successfully for years which is one of the reasons they are so popular as anyone who has attended their concerts can agree. All it takes is hard work and dedication and longevity which is not happening much in Korea anymore because agencies are concentrating on quantity rather than quality. I hope this helps you understand the global fans point of view and I may add if South Korea destroy BTS’s good name they will see a decline in K Pop popularity globally, but that may be a good thing as agencies will debut less idols and concentrate on quality once more .

On an online forum, discussions have erupted after a KZfaq video drew parallels between "Bubble Gum" and the 1980s track "Easier Said Than Done" by British jazz-funk band Shakatak, still active today. The post, titled "Is this a plagiarism by NewJeans?" highlighted similarities between the compositions by 250 and others, and Shakatak's track by Bill Sharpe & Roger Odell. PLEASE LISTEN TO '"Easier Said Than Done" by British jazz-funk band Shakatak, and then compare it to NJ NEW SONG 'BUBBLE GUM', it's definately not MHJ original !!! A POT IS TRYING TO CALL THE OTHER BLACK KETTLE :BLACK" ..

“Hybe apparently copied” - not very objective. Perhaps you meant allegedly rather than apparently.

I didn’t like that you guys said “apparently” and also said Hybe is trying to “get rid of her”, it seems like you are biased.

In the case of Min Hee Jin accusing Hybe of copying NJ'S, that's absurd! First of all MHJ is an employee of the company also, there's nothing original about that group and they appear to be copying western girl groups like: TLC, P. Cat Dolls, Blaque and many others around the world. What she's doing is shameful and destroying the k-pop industry and purposely trying to ruin Hybe. She should be booted out of the company, fined and thrown in jail. Also, everytime the gentleman on the panel was asked a question, his response was always regarding the fans and the idols personal life. Yes, the fans are too involved in their lives but that's not the current topic! I don't see where he offered anything to the table, did he not understand the questions? It was also mentioned that idols can't sing and dance at the same time. Really? Have you watched and listened to BTS, SVT, TXT and I'm sure some others? I wonder if you have full knowledge on what you're speaking about!

It is important for HYBE to understand why MHJ wanted to become independent and work together to consider countermeasures. After that, if they can't resolve the issue, HYBE can fire MHJ. An entertainment company that does not try to understand people's feelings cannot become a top company.

Hi Arirang! I love your reporting on these current news topics. I’m often too busy to watch the whole episode. Could you start making and uploading a “highlights” or “summary” video clips (30 seconds, 3-5 minutes clips, Shorts, etc.) of these episodes? It’s be great for busy people like me. Thank you!

ADORE (MHJ) created New Jeans and Bang Pd created ILLIT? Where is left BELIFT LAB in this equation? Under a conglomerate subsidiaries have their own management. She is accusing HYBE of doing illegal things and is distracting public attention from her illegal plans to rip-off ADORE from HYBE her co-owner. Fans or haters are forgetting that ADORE was not created by MHJ with her saving money. HYBE created ADORE and gave her the management of the company. She is an art creator in visuals, why people are saying she is a producer? She is making the music for NJ? The plagiarism accusations with the last song is her fault? I mean maybe it's in her own nature to steal from others? I don't know.

More of the Professor please! Very rare is it to have a guest commenting on Kpop happenings and not 1) Be dissmissive 2) Read the liner notes of an article anyone can read or 3) Carry their bias ,company or group, flag with them.

It doesn't feel like you have actual knowledge about the issue you're "debating".

Korea should explore new music genres alongside K-pop, as trends evolve over time. I find K-pop to be highly manufactured and less authentic compared to other genres that have a more organic feel.

i agree with her. the fan labor and quantaty over quality has been an issue for long. Even BTs talked about how hard it is to come up with new stuff at that phase. but they did it anyway. i also think this feud between labels should stop. in the US there is not the same issue people enjoy diffrent types of music. but in kpop companies is kind of competeing with each other on the charts so for idols to be friends and even know who to trust must be hard. but it´s because kpop acts are own and controlled by the labels. in the US its the artist themself who has the last word. BTS and other groups at Hybe has been giving creative freedom from the start. even if they prefere not to they have the opotunity. BTS did it from the beginning and i think that´s why BTS is so loved. we know it is their words and music not the label. fans of other groups tend to move on to other groups when their fave disband because they know they will have new music they love from other groups. so we fans do take it personaly when mhj tried to smear BTS name because of her issue with bang. Hybe should not use bts either, it has become a fan issue because it´s us paying for the albums and they are litterally saying that we are not real and bts is fake, so how can it not be our problem? it´s our money used to buy the album so how can it be right for a company to trying to take them down. Army´s has beeen fighting with BTS for years now. this is nothing new to us we are used to attacks from all sides. so to take a chill pill when BTS is being targeted is a no go. it´s easy for people who don´t like BTS to say this but they never look at the reason behind why we are doing it.

The Korean Kpop industry is following the typical curve of an industry moving from being entreprenurial and innovative in spirit to a more mature and market-saturated sector with significant investor pressures. The business efforts that worked for Kpop when the industry was "young and hungry" no longer work now that the industry is made of large profit-driven corporations. It's time for a change. It would be easy to throw stones at the Kpop industry for not preparing for this change in its business model, but all industries go through this type of growth cycle as their businesses mature. Min Hee Jin has unfortunately taken advantage of this tumultuous growth cycle and is upending the stabiity of Kpop as a whole. Did she do this intentionally? It looks like she did act intentionally to target one company, HYBE, when the industry needs new ideas to maintain its growth. However, only Korea's judicial system can decide if the MHJ's actions were not only advantageously malicious but also criminal. HYBE's artists...namely New Jeans... and their fans may have to suffer through this messy confusion until the courts decide what is to be done next. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is. It would be interesting for there to be a research study analyzing the dynamics of the parasocial connection between Kpop idols and their Korean fans. Korean news outlets routinely share that depression rates are high in today's Korean youth. If this amount of unhappiness is true then what role has parasocial Kpop fandoms played in mitigating the problem? In other words, how is this mental health crisis related to the forcefulness with which Kpop fans feel they "own" their idols? Are Kpop companies who welcomed this idol-fan codependency in the past to make their money now finding the codependency to be a major hinderance for future industry stability and success? What happens when international fans treat the idols differently? Will there be a new paradigm created between Kpop idols and their fandoms or will the current one continue? What will the Kpop industry look like 5 years from now? I am an internstional obeserver who believes Min Hee Jin did something very wrong inside HYBE. She handled her CEO role with Ador and HYBE improperly. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. It's a real shame. I believe MHJ could have been a top female CEO in the sector and her opportunity is gone. However...if I take a step back and look at everything with a "glass half full" viewpoint...maybe MHJ is helping the Kpop industry re-examine where it's headed and forcing HYBE (and the entire industry) to clean up its novice business workings so that it can take full advantage of being in a mature business cycle. That would be a tremendously good outcome from this drama. 🤔

Great content. Thank you for your work.

I find it a bit sad that the only descrition that Swiss dude gets is "the first non-binary". It's kinda reducing him to that, and people aren't even realizing it.

in terms of respecting personal life, i would never be tired to say iKONICs should be the role model. with Bobby being married for 3 years now and have a son (he got married at the ripe old age of 25, very rare for idols), we totally respect that and never cease to support him. he's able to continue his career just fine, release multiple albums as soloist well as continue as a member of IKON. relationship, even marriage, shouldnt be a death toll for idols, they should be able to have normal life too.

why is no one talking about her dubious past with under age trainees, hmmmmm

When MHJ is finally gone will that mean the end for new jeans also?

Excuse me... Blackpink is a Global Super Group, and the issue that you mentioned, have no basis.

Croatia should have won Eurovison because of first place with public votes. Jury votes helped Switzerland to become the first.Jury wanted Switzerland to win. There is big difference between public votes and Jury votes.

Seesh! Who told you it is difficult to dance and sing at the same time? Seesh Seesh

Min Heejin needs to quit doing bs shows and just go to court. She’s dragging this issue to for so long cuz she knows she’s guilty. Hope this greedy and manipulative individual would rot in jail.

Min Hee Jin destroy New Jeans herself. The girls work so hard to get where they are now. So sad.

This seems so scripted. It does not sound like a natural live conversation. What kinda of a "talk" show is this. It's more like a reading show.

HYBE...

Interesting that International fans are believing in BTS only and ignoring Hybe's bullying and manipulation and media play. BTS is great, but Hybe's pumping out GG with little talent, nowhere near BTS, and copying their own successful group at Ador, created by MHJ with long success at SM, called New Jeans. Seems huge Egos, greed, and jealousy is working in this battle. The artists and fans are suffering. Internatinal fans only want to protect BTS, meanwhile there are many other groups, artists, people involved, many of them minors. Dig deeper Army, see beyond BTS before judging and believing everything Hybe puts out. They are not the little Big Hit agency with only BTS anymore. They are huge and have over a dozen labels and business entities, including Hybe America that they created buying out Scooter Braun's company after he failed fighting Taylor Swift about master tapes, and made him President of Hybe America. Hybe created a rigged elimination show to copy New Jeans (group named Ill'it) debuted them quickly, did a lot of payola to make them popular on social mefia and spotify and already had them going to Paris Fashion week as just debuted rookies? And this group is virtually a copy of New Jeans, who BSH has never really acknowledged personally despite their huge success and profits, because MHJ created them, not him. MHJ is not clean either. But just know that there is a dark underbelly to Kpop, and Hybe is not excluded from it.

She is not a Producer she' a 'Creative Director' she does not Produce Music. Ador's producer produces the music in fact the she has nothing to do with music she doesn't even write lyric's or Compose the musical score.

Some people call them trainee at a tender age of 13 yrs old. But, in the end it’s called child abuse or child slavery.

New Jeans is limited to a certain fan group, because they are female, their age-minor status, their music style, etc… they don’t get that lots of females lean towards men groups, men over 18 can’t see minor girl groups by themselves without being labeled perverts, women over 18 don’t normally go see them by themselves, grown adult only see them because they bring their minor child, boys don’t normally go to girl groups because the music don’t vibe with them, after certain age boys grow out of girl group, adults don’t vibe with girl group music… lots of grow out of their kid groups…that’s why there’s a long line of bands doing the 7 years and the band disband and go to other groups. So she/Ador CEO, Ador employees and New Jeans being envious and blaming HYbe and BTS, they all need to stop comparing and seeing their group as better than BTS. Comebon hybe, fire everyone at Ador, close down Ador, disband New Jeans and put in other groups of blacklisted them definitely blacklist the CEO and her employees.

HYBE is playing it dirty, remember HYBE is a company vs MHJ is an individual. HYBE is a bully, what HYBE is putiing out is to destroy MHJ and not responding to any issues.