NewJeans’ Hanni made headlines today as she voluntarily appeared before the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee for a parliamentary audit. As the first K-pop idol to take part in such a formal governmental setting, Hanni arrived at the National Assembly in Seoul dressed casually yet stylishly in a white shirt, knit vest, and jeans, carrying a Gucci bag.
This follows her allegations during a YouTube live stream last month, where she revealed being told to be "ignored" by a manager from a different HYBE subsidiary.
Hanni shared, "I was alone, waiting for someone, while other artists and staff passed by. One of the managers from the group ILLIT walked past me and said 'ignore her' in front of me, where everyone could see and hear. I still can’t understand why that happened." She expressed her fear that her group members might face similar treatment and voiced concerns over the lack of support, feeling abandoned after the new CEO, Kim Joo-young, dismissed the incident due to insufficient evidence.
Despite Belift Lab, the agency managing ILLIT, denying the allegations based on CCTV footage and witness accounts, the growing controversy has led to Hanni being summoned as a key witness at the National Assembly. Alongside her, ADOR's CEO Kim Joo-young has been called to testify. The session aims to investigate whether Hanni's experiences amount to workplace harassment under labor laws.
On October 10th, Hanni announced to fans, "I've made my decision. I’ll testify at the hearing. I’m going alone, but don’t worry. I’m doing this for myself, for my members, and for our fans, Bunnies." Fans are rallying around her bravery as the spotlight now turns to whether her claims will redefine workplace protections in K-pop.
This parliamentary hearing will examine the claims in detail, determining if NewJeans' bullying scandal falls under workplace harassment as defined by Korean labor laws.
Before entering the assembly, when asked for a message to her fans, Hanni confidently stated, "I don’t need to say much, my fans already know everything." She is expected to address these issues directly during her testimony, as her company’s CEO will also be present as a witness. Hanni's bold decision to stand up for herself and her group reflects her dedication to both her fellow members and her fans.
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