NewJeans Exposes “HYBE Bullying” Controversy: Backlash Hits ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM, Plus Labor Ministry Complaint Filed

On September 11th, during an emergency live broadcast, NewJeans called for the reinstatement of their former CEO, Min Hee-jin, by September 25th. The group disclosed that their trust in HYBE had been severely undermined due to a lack of protection against bullying within the organization.

Hanni recounted an unsettling incident while waiting in the hallway for her hair and makeup. She overheard a manager from another HYBE-affiliated team instructing someone to “ignore” her. When she approached Kim Joo-young, the newly appointed CEO of ADOR, with her concerns, they were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Expressing her distress, Hanni stated, “The new people assuring they want to help are merely offering excuses, claiming nothing can be done. Even though I endured this, they attempt to place the blame on me. I feel worried and scared about the potential consequences moving forward.”

Minji shared her shock upon hearing Hanni’s experience, saying, “I reported it to the company, yet they failed to take any action. The other team didn’t apologize or recognize their wrongdoing. I’m also concerned about possible subtle ostracization.”

This revelation sparked outrage among fans known as Bunnies, leading them to file a complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. They demanded a comprehensive investigation into the bullying allegations at HYBE and severe penalties for any illegal actions identified.

As per the “Workplace Bullying Judgment and Prevention Response Manual” released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor in May 2023, workplace bullying is defined under labor law as actions where either an employer or employee exploits their superior position to inflict physical or mental distress, or to degrade the work environment for others. Behaviors such as group bullying, intentional exclusion, or ignoring colleagues during work are considered beyond acceptable workplace conduct.

The backlash from fans has extended not only toward ADOR and HYBE but also to other artists associated with HYBE. LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT, in particular, have been inundated with negative comments. As of the morning of September 12th, numerous remarks speculating “It must be either the manager of ILLIT or LE SSERAFIM” flooded related content involving both groups.

Source: Nate