Shakatak — Initial Report on the “Bubble Gum” Plagiarism Allegations
NewJeans’ new song “Bubble Gum,” released by ADOR, a label under Korea’s largest entertainment agency HYBE, has been embroiled in controversy over similarities to a song by a British band from 42 years ago.
According to industry sources on May 13, controversy continues on YouTube and online communities over similarities between NewJeans’ new song “Bubble Gum” and the 1982 song “Easier Said Than Done” by British jazz-funk band Shakatak.
Claims such as “They’re identical,” “It’s more similar than a sampling (cutting and newly processing/arranging parts of existing songs) track,” and “What hypocrisy” are being frequently posted in online communities.
| date | time | author | press | title | url |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-13 | 12:07:00 | Jang Woo-jung | Chosun Biz | Min Hee-jin, Who Criticized ILLIT, Faces Plagiarism Controversy with NewJeans' New Song 'Bubble Gum' | Link |
| 2024-05-13 | 14:15:00 | Yoon Hye-young | Sports Today | Min Hee-jin, Who Was Angry at Copying, Now Faces Plagiarism Suspicion for NewJeans [ST Issue] | Link |
| 2024-05-13 | 14:33:00 | Kim Han-gil | TV Daily | Min Hee-jin's NewJeans, Who Pointed Out ILLIT's Copying, Now Faces 'Plagiarism Suspicion' Backlash [Issue & Talk] | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 9:06:00 | Yoon Jun-ho | TenAsia | NewJeans, New Song 'Bubble Gum' Plagiarism Suspicion… Min Hee-jin's Public Attack on "Copy Group ILLIT" Becomes Awkward [TEN Issue] | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 9:31:00 | Hwang Hye-jin | Newsen | Min Hee-jin Facing Backlash Over NewJeans' 'Bubble Gum' Plagiarism Suspicion… Original Artist Steps In: "It is Similar" | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 10:20:00 | Shin Jin-ah | The Financial News | Running on 'Copy-Paste'? Following NewJeans' Parents, Choreographers Step In… Media War Intensifies Ahead of Trial on 17th | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 11:25:00 | Seo Jung-min | The Hankyoreh | NewJeans Choreographer to ILLIT: "Total Copy-Paste"… 'Bubble Gum' Also in Plagiarism Controversy | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 12:15:00 | Lee Deok-haeng | ize | Support for Min Hee-jin's Media War: More Harm Than Good Seen | Link |
| 2024-05-14 | 15:54:00 | Kim Han-gil | TV Daily | Even Original Artist Claims "Similar"… Will Min Hee-jin Issue Statement on NewJeans New Song Plagiarism Suspicion [Issue & Talk] | Link |
| 2024-05-17 | 3:00:00 | Kim Jung-eun | The Dong-A Ilbo | NewJeans New Song 'Bubble Gum', British Band Plagiarism Suspicion | Link |
| 2024-05-18 | 17:30:00 | Kim Hyun-duck | Sports Seoul | NewJeans, Angry at ILLIT Plagiarism -> Silent on 'Bubble Gum' Plagiarism Controversy | Link |
| 2024-05-22 | 17:27:00 | Lee Deok-haeng | ize | Min Hee-jin Falling into Self-Contradiction? Adding Insult to Injury in Copy Controversy | Link |