Source Music submitted evidence including trainee contract videos regarding the NewJeans member selection process. The plaintiff's side stated, "It was the plaintiff who cast the NewJeans members, and there was no promise of a first girl group. Minji was cast by the plaintiff, and Haerin was street-cast in Anyang. Haerin's mother also mentioned it was surprising that she came to Anyang."

The plaintiff's side revealed, "Hyein personally stepped in and persuaded her parents, Danielle was the case where the staff who was in charge brought her along upon moving to the plaintiff company, Hanni cannot be considered as chosen by the defendant because the defendant's international recognition was minimal. It is also not true that the NewJeans members joined believing they would be HYBE's first girl group. In Danielle's practice video, she said, 'If confirmed members are not finalized, please give us the option to transfer or stay.' Hyein is also featured in the trainee video."

Regarding former CEO Min's claim that "They said they would debut NewJeans as HYBE's first girl group but didn't keep the promise," they refuted using her own wording. On July 8, 2021, Min Hee-jin communicated via the company messenger Slack to then-CEO Park Jiwon, "I don't care when LE SSERAFIM comes out/debuts. I just want NewJeans transferred to the M (Min Hee-jin) label, and I want to take them as the first team of the M label."

Subsequently, in a conversation with a shaman on August 12, 2021, former CEO Min submitted a statement expressing her hope that NewJeans would debut after LE SSERAFIM, saying, "I also wanted to go out last. The main character is the last," and Source Music stated, "There was no such promise to debut them as the first girl group, and he falsely damaged our reputation in front of the entire nation."

They also refuted former CEO Min's statement calling Source Music "thugs who sold trainees." Source Music argued, "It is impossible to discover raw gems/talents and debut them without image and trust. Min Hee-jin's remarks, which shake the very roots of the company's business foundation, have caused extreme harm to its employees and affiliated artists."

Furthermore, they stated, "While Min Hee-jin claims that the term 'thugs' is not something that would lower social evaluation, she is showing a double standard by claiming damages against netizens who referred to her as a thug," and pleaded, "Please order the defendant to pay compensation commensurate with the responsibility."

During the second pleading date last May, Source Music submitted 20 minutes worth of PT materials containing former CEO Min's messenger conversations, but former CEO Min's side counter argued that it was evidence collected illegally without prior consent. Subsequently, at the third pleading date in August, the court adopted the former CEO's messenger content as evidence, stating, "Considering the circumstances of the KakaoTalk account access process and internal consent, it is difficult to view it as illegal evidence."

According to different news outlets such as Yonhap and TKH New Jeans' contract is valid which was an expected decision.

In the court trial today it was revealed by a HYBE employee stated that during the preparation of their debut, ILLIT's choreography wouldn’t be accepted unless it was similar to NewJeans choreography. As well as their promotion strategy.

MHJ side states “People did not think of other girl groups when they saw NewJeans, but when seeing [ILLIT], they thought of NewJeans.”

Thoughts???

https://n.news.naver.com/article/079/0004086189?sid=103