NewJeans’ Hanni Allegedly Faces Illegal Residency Issues During Contract Dispute

On December 20, sources within the industry disclosed that an individual, identified as A, formally submitted an “Application for Deportation of Illegal Resident Phạm Ngọc Hân (Hanni’s real name)” to the Immigration Offenses Reporting system managed by the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau.

While Danielle, one of Hanni’s fellow members in the group, possesses dual citizenship in both Korea and Australia, Hanni herself holds dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam. As a result, she is legally regarded as a foreigner in Korea and is required to renew her visa on an annual basis.

NewJeans Hanni wears Save the Children bracelet at the National Assembly-151024122

This situation has led to a complex dilemma. Hanni has alleged that her contract with the entertainment agency ADOR has concluded; however, she remains in Korea on a visa originally issued through ADOR. This circumstance suggests she may be inadvertently acknowledging the ongoing validity of her exclusive agreement with ADOR.

If her claim of contract termination is validated, it would imply her contract officially ended on August 29. This scenario would leave her without an agency and invalidate her visa issued by ADOR. According to immigration regulations, she should have surrendered her registration card and departed Korea by September 13, which is 15 days after her alleged contract termination. Therefore, based on her own statements, she could currently be classified as an illegal resident.

The Immigration Act does permit a foreign national to change workplaces under their current visa, but such a change necessitates consent from the former agency. Given ADOR’s firm stance that the exclusive contract with NewJeans is still in effect, obtaining such consent seems improbable.

As it stands, foreign entertainers in Korea are required to operate under an agency and acquire an E-6 (entertainment) visa through the agency’s sponsorship. The documentation necessary to secure this visa includes an exclusive contract with a registered entertainment agency, the agency’s registration certificate, a guarantee letter from the agency’s representative, and an employment recommendation from Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The E-6 visa binds the entertainer’s professional activities to the sponsoring agency. Therefore, utilizing a visa secured through ADOR for individual work or collaboration with another agency would violate legal regulations.

Despite these challenges, Hanni’s opportunity to continue her activities in Korea does exist. If she quickly secures a new E-6 visa, she can potentially revive her career in the country. However, this process involves gathering necessary documents, including the employment recommendation from the Minister of Culture, and could take an estimated 2 to 3 months. During this interim period, she would be unable to participate in any entertainment activities, which may hinder full group efforts from NewJeans as suggested by the members’ statements.

Speculation suggests that the rumors regarding the families of the five members forming a new agency are rooted in the urgent need to establish a new affiliation that can navigate these regulatory challenges more effectively.

Insiders reveal that Hanni’s visa, which was issued via ADOR, is anticipated to expire early next year. In response, ADOR stated, “Given that the exclusive contract with NewJeans remains valid, we are actively preparing the necessary documentation for visa renewal in accordance with standard procedures.”

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