Hanni, a popular member of the South Korean girl group NewJeans, has made a surprising declaration, announcing her decision to testify before South Korea’s National Assembly in a hearing about bullying in the music industry.
The singer revealed that she made the choice independently, without consulting her management or record label, Ador. “I believe this is the right course of action, regardless of how much I’ve thought about it,” Hanni shared in a heartfelt message to her fans on social media.
This decision follows concerns raised by Hanni and her fellow band members during a spontaneous YouTube livestream on September 11. In the video, which has since been removed, the group expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment by Ador. NewJeans, one of the top-selling acts globally last year, has gained immense popularity with hits like “SuperShy” and “OMG.”
Earlier this year, Min Hee-Jin, their mentor and CEO of Ador, was ousted amid accusations that she was attempting a hostile takeover to separate NewJeans and Ador from their parent company, Hybe. Min has consistently denied these allegations. During the now-deleted livestream, NewJeans members called for Min’s reinstatement while also voicing allegations of workplace harassment.
Hanni disclosed a specific incident in which she greeted members of another band at her record label’s office, only to be instructed by their manager to be “ignored.” She reported the event to Ador’s new CEO, Kim Joo-Young, but claimed her concerns were dismissed. “I was told it was too late and that I lacked evidence. Watching her dismiss the issue left me feeling unprotected,” Hanni shared during the livestream.
This incident sparked a heated exchange between fans of NewJeans and the girl group Illit, who were rumored to be involved in the controversy. As tensions mounted, Illit’s management, Belift Lab, issued a statement refuting the allegations. “Illit’s managers never gave instructions to ignore NewJeans, and the members have always greeted NewJeans when they crossed paths,” the agency stated.
Belift Lab also claimed to have reviewed footage showing Illit members bowing to Hanni during the alleged incident, although video evidence of their further interactions was unavailable. The agency dismissed claims from NewJeans’ parents that footage had been deliberately deleted.
As the dispute garnered national attention, South Korea’s Environment and Labour Committee summoned both Hanni and Kim Joo-Young to testify at a hearing on workplace harassment later this month.
In her message to fans, Hanni reiterated her determination, saying, “I’ve made my decision. I’m going to the National Assembly. A parliamentary inspection! I’m going alone. Neither my managers nor the company know yet.”
She expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from her fans, affectionately known as “Bunnies,” and reassured them they need not worry. “I’m doing this for myself, for the members [of NewJeans], and for the Bunnies. No, it’s not difficult. I want to do this,” she concluded.
Source: BBC
