Min Hee-jin Responds to Allegations of Hanni’s ‘Labor Ministry Petition’ Intervention, Calls for Deletion and Apology for Intentional Article

Min Hee-jin Denies Allegations Amid Workplace Bullying Controversy

On January 16, 2023, Chosun Biz highlighted a Telegram exchange between A, a family relative of a member of NewJeans, and Min Hee-jin. The discussion, which took place on September 14, 2022, began when A reached out to Min with, “The labor ministry has started, please call me.” Min replied, “I’m currently getting an IV drip. I’ll call you later in the afternoon.”

This exchange occurred shortly after Hanni publicly discussed her experiences of workplace bullying, prompting fans to submit complaints to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. During a YouTube livestream, Hanni disclosed an incident where a manager from another group within HYBE advised her to “ignore”her concerns, inciting fan support for petitions critiquing the workplace environment.

In response to these events, Min Hee-jin quickly addressed the allegations by sharing text messages with the Chosun Biz reporter on her social media. She aimed to clarify her position and counter the claims made against her.

Min asserted, “I do not know any government officials involved in this matter, nor have I ever directed or requested anything. The claims made are entirely false and speculative fiction. The communication in question came unexpectedly from the uncle, and as evidenced by the logs, there was no relevant discussion on the stated date. Conversations before and after show that I was receiving suggestions, not initiating them.”

She emphasized the violation of journalistic ethics in how the article was written, stating, “It is irresponsible to craft an article that portrays me in a suspicious light without verifying facts with me beforehand. The article must be retracted, and I demand an apology.”

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