The fandom of NewJeans, known as Bunnies, is demanding that Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, be called to testify during the National Assembly Inspection. This follows the summons of NewJeans’ member Hanni and ADOR CEO Ju Young Kim in connection with a workplace harassment investigation.
This inquiry was initiated after Hanni revealed she overheard a manager from a HYBE-affiliated group instructing artists to disregard her.
The fandom specifically referenced Hanni’s summons in their statement on September 1, urging the standing committee members of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to reconsider the decision. They expressed concern over HYBE’s extensive content production and the dehumanization of its artists in pursuit of globalizing K-POP, warning that this approach threatens to lead to stagnation and crises within the industry. They stated, “The inclusion of this issue in the National Assembly inspection and the summoning of Bang Si-hyuk, who is accountable for these problems, is crucial to prevent further issues. We ask you to take this matter seriously, knowing it reflects the earnest concern of those who appreciate culture.”
The statement went on to express, “The weight of frustration and helplessness felt by NewJeans members and former CEO Min Hee-jin during their brief promotional period has deeply affected us. It’s disheartening to see a single entertainment company’s influence stretching into media and politics. However, we cannot retreat; doing so would jeopardize the future of our artists.”
In conclusion, they asserted, “We will persist in our efforts to have Bang Si-hyuk summoned during the National Assembly inspection to hold him accountable for the corruption and illegal activities he and his cohorts have engaged in, and to ensure they commit to corrective measures. We also appeal for continued support from Bunnies and all fans of K-POP, and we are incredibly grateful for your backing.”
On August 2, the legal representative of Bunnies filed a complaint with the Seoul Yongsan Police Station against HYBE, Source Music, and Dispatch. This was due to violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and the Information and Communications Network Act caused by information leaks and defamation stemming from reported articles.
They stated, “Despite HYBE being the parent company of ADOR, they cannot unlawfully collect or disclose personal information about the CEO of their subsidiary or any artists, nor may they share confidential information obtained during their duties with third parties. This also applies to Source Music, another HYBE subsidiary. Articles based on illegally obtained and leaked personal information are circulating online, causing severe defamation of NewJeans and exacerbating the situation.”
The fandom emphasized, “The ongoing false accusations and criticisms against NewJeans are severely damaging to these young artists. Bunnies have united to address these unlawful actions through strict legal enforcement, resulting in this complaint.”
Previously, Dispatch and other media outlets published snippets of a KakaoTalk conversation among former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, an ADOR executive referred to as A, and a shaman. These reports alleged that Min Hee-jin had recruited trainees from Source Music when NewJeans members were still being trained there.
Attorney Lee Hyun-gon from Saeol Law Office remarked, “If the leaked KakaoTalk conversation was released by an internal HYBE source, it constitutes a serious breach of personal privacy. Writing an article knowing the motivations behind this leak could also be regarded as an unlawful act.”
Additionally, an anonymous legal expert noted, “Reporting false information without consent from the involved parties, using materials accessible solely to insiders, could be classified as defamation and a violation of personal rights. The organization behind the leak may also be breaching the Personal Information Protection Act.”
A spokesperson for NewJeans’ fandom stated, “In light of this complaint, we will continue to pursue third-party complaints against malicious posts concerning NewJeans. We have gathered and analyzed thousands of these posts and engaged two additional attorneys to file complaints based on their likelihood of legal action.”
The representative also added, “We are committed to protecting NewJeans at all costs and demonstrating to HYBE that the fandom is a formidable force. We are also preparing other actions beyond this complaint, which we cannot disclose at this moment.”
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