Bang Si-hyuk's Battle: Hybe's War With Team Bunnies Over ILLIT And NewJeans

A curious boundary has been drawn in the digital sphere, marked by court filings rather than aesthetic consensus. Belift Lab, a K-pop subsidiary under the expansive umbrella of Hybe, has initiated formal proceedings against a fan collective known as Team Bunnies. This legal action, submitted to the Seoul Western District Court, seeks redress—specifically 100 million won ($68,000)—for the alleged defamation of the group ILLIT. The label asserts that the operator of Team Bunnies has persistently disseminated unsubstantiated claims accusing ILLIT of having plagiarized NewJeans, transforming artistic criticism into reputational and financial injury.

This movement from perceived stylistic similarity to formal litigation reveals a unique architecture of contemporary cultural dispute.

The complaints filed detail specific, uniquely organized actions that complicate the usual dynamics of fandom disputes. Among the charges is the alleged acquisition and online disclosure of ILLIT's confidential internal planning documentation, a step that elevates fan opposition beyond simple commentary and into the realm of corporate information leakage.

Furthermore, Belift Lab noted that the fan group had filed criminal complaints in November 2024 against company executives after the label publicly rejected the initial plagiarism claims—a move the label characterized as both malicious and unfounded. This inverted reaction—the doubling down of legal opposition following public denial—is a confusing testament to the intensity of felt injustice within these communities.

The measure of digital loyalty in this conflict is undeniably striking.

In October 2024, the Team Bunnies operator posted a fundraising bank account, soliciting contributions intended for the filing of complaints against malicious online posts targeting NewJeans. This moment of collective digital solidarity crystallized rapidly; reports indicate that over 50 million won was raised within a mere eight hours.

This sudden flood of capital demonstrates how quickly abstract allegiance can transform into a measurable pool of resources dedicated to legal action. Litigation, in this instance, becomes an unusual, yet highly financed, mechanism for settling disagreements over influences, creative direction, and the defense of specific, beloved aesthetics.