(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – Hanni, a member of the popular K-pop group NewJeans, has announced her intention to attend the upcoming National Assembly audit on workplace bullying and ostracism as a reference witness. The audit is scheduled for October 15.
On Wednesday, Hanni shared her decision via the fan communication app “Phoning,” stating, “I will attend the audit alone. I’m doing this for myself, the NewJeans members, and our fans.”
She added, “Neither my manager nor the company (Ador) knows yet, but after much thought, I believe this is the right thing to do.”
When contacted by The Korea Herald, Ador declined to comment on the matter.
Hanni’s decision comes after a claim made during a YouTube live broadcast with her fellow NewJeans members on September 11. In the video, she alleged that a manager from another K-pop band under the Hybe umbrella instructed the group to “ignore her,” leading her to feel ostracised within the K-pop powerhouse.
Hybe has refuted this claim, stating that the manager in question is affiliated with Belift Lab, a subsidiary of Hybe that manages the rookie girl group Illit. After reviewing CCTV footage and conducting an investigation, Belift Lab concluded that Hanni’s allegations were unfounded.
On Thursday, Hanni shared her mother’s supportive message regarding her decision to attend the National Assembly audit via Phoning. “We stand by Hanni’s choice, understanding that attending the National Assembly audit is a heavy responsibility, and she does not take it lightly,” her mother expressed. “We were deeply upset when we first heard about the incident at Hybe, and we felt it was important to prevent such issues from recurring. We encourage her to speak out.”
In light of the controversy stemming from Hanni’s comments during the YouTube Live session, the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee invited her as a reference witness for the upcoming Ministry of Employment and Labor audit on September 30. Ador CEO Kim Ju-young has also been summoned as a witness, but Ador has yet to confirm her attendance.
