ADOR CEO Kim Yu-young Discusses NewJeans’ Hanni Amid CCTV Data Retention Issues

On October 15, during an audit by the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, held in Yeouido, Seoul, Hanni from NewJeans and Kim Joo-Young, the CEO of ADOR, appeared as a witness and reference, respectively, to discuss incidents of workplace bullying.

Hanni shared her experience, recalling a moment when she made eye contact with her supervisor, who then instructed other staff to “ignore her, act like you didn’t see her.” She voiced her confusion, stating, “It’s hard for me to comprehend why I had to endure this treatment.”

She went on to express, “I felt compelled to speak today, as I feared this concern would be overlooked. Anyone could find themselves in a similar predicament.”

In reply, Kim Yu-young disclosed that he first learned of the situation on June 13 while serving as a board member at Adore. After becoming aware, he felt it was his duty to protect the artists and requested a review of the CCTV footage.

He clarified, “The manager involved in this incident does not belong to our Adore company; they are with a different entity and have a separate CEO. However, I did reach out to verify these details with both the artist and the manager from that label.”

Kim continued, “Regrettably, the CCTV footage is no longer available as it has surpassed the retention period. I explored the possibility of recovering it. I am exploring every avenue, and although there are contradictory accounts, I find Hanni’s narrative credible. I am also frustrated and seeking any possible evidence, but thus far, I have been unsuccessful.”

Additionally, during a YouTube live stream with fellow NewJeans members on September 11, Hanni claimed that she was dismissed by both artists and managers associated with her parent company, HYBE.

During the broadcast, Hanni recounted, “I greeted another artist and their manager in the HYBE building corridor, and the manager told me to ‘ignore it.’ I cannot fathom why this is acceptable.”

As a result of her statements, fans have lodged a complaint with the Seoul Western Employment Labor Office, which is currently looking into whether the allegations amount to “workplace bullying.”

In response, Belift Lab, a label affiliated with HYBE, announced that their review of the CCTV footage did not corroborate these claims. They stated, “Our team members adhere to protocols and communicate with artists respectfully, making the claim that anyone instructed someone to ‘ignore it’ inconsistent with observable facts.”

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