ILLIT Slammed For “Copying” NewJeans’ Choreography In Recent Show. Fans Divided!
Tension between ILLIT and NewJeans has been going on since 2024.
Plagiarism debates never seem to fade in K-pop. ILLIT has been repeatedly accused of copying NewJeans, and the same old claims keep resurfacing. Just recently, this issue surfaced again online and ignited heated debates and divided fans all around the world. This latest claim has everyone once again talking about the similarities between the two groups. Read on to know all about it!
On March 14, 2026, ILLIT started their Seoul concerts as part of their first major tour, called PRESS START, at Ticketlink Live Arena in Songpa-gu. Fans enjoyed the show, but later videos from the stage spread like wildfire online and people pointed at something familiar. They felt that a few parts of the dance for their new song ‘NOT ME’ looked a lot like NewJeans’ popular 2022 track ‘Cookie’. The similarities included groups sitting in formations, bench-like props used on stage, and matching hand gestures done while seated. This caused havoc across social media platforms.
and the newjeans song illit is plagiarizing today is…. COOKIE!!!🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/ch8GqvYop1
— riri ☆ (@tokkimys) March 14, 2026
Well, this isn’t new. Tension between ILLIT and NewJeans has been going on since 2024. Both groups are part of HYBE, but NewJeans belongs to ADOR and ILLIT to BELIFT LAB. Back then, the former ADOR ceo Min Hee-jin publicly said that ILLIT took style, makeup and dance inspiration.
In response, BELIFT Lab answered thoseclaims by posting videos that showed similar ideas in choreographies from old girl groups. They explained that these types of steps are just common trends in K-pop and not plagiarism. HYBE and BELIFT even went to court against Min Hee-jin over things like spreading false information and hurting business and image.
Now, fans are divided again. NewJeans fans, also known as Bunnies, think the new choreography was done on purpose to get attention and help ILLIT succeed. They say it’s best to just ignore it and not feed the drama. ILLIT fans, also known as Tokkis, think all of it is too much. They point out the sitting part was only short, not the full dance, and things like benches or starting seated happen in many shows and immediately call the backlash unfair.
Also Read: Did Min Hee Jin Just Like A Shady Post Towards ILLIT? Netizens Are Debating If It’s Intentional!
As of now, no new official comment has come from the companies about this latest performance. The whole debate about who copies whom still goes on in social media platforms, with no final settlement.
What are your thoughts? Let us know!
Also Read: ILLIT’s Agency Announces Legal Action Against Stalkers Breaching Member’s Privacy
First Published: March 16, 2026 12:16 PM
