NewJeans’ Hanni Breaks Down: A Call Against Workplace Bullying Through Mutual Respect

On the afternoon of October 15, Hanni took the stand before the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly to address issues of workplace bullying within the K-pop industry, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of “idol isolation.” The session also included a representative from NewJeans‘ management, with the agency’s new CEO, Kim Joo-young, attending as a witness. Hanni, along with parents of other NewJeans members, had previously voiced concerns regarding bullying at ADOR, affiliated with the parent company HYBE, citing insufficient responses from CEO Kim Joo-young.

During her testimony, Hanni shared a specific experience where she encountered three members from a different label accompanied by a female manager. She recounted, “I greeted the members kindly, and 5 to 10 minutes later, as they walked by again, the manager locked eyes with me and instructed the members following her, ‘Act like you didn’t see her and ignore her.’” Hanni expressed her confusion about this treatment, adding, “This wasn’t just a one-off occurrence. Had I not spoken out, this might have been ignored. I am here because I want to prevent others from suffering the same fate.”

Furthermore, Hanni revealed that she has faced feelings of neglect and isolation since she debuted. She alluded to Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, stating, “From the moment I debuted, I’ve interacted with many senior figures, and each time I greeted them, there was no acknowledgment. Living in Korea, I thought showing respect to elders was customary. Not responding to a greeting isn’t just unprofessional; it’s downright discourteous.”

In her response, CEO Kim Joo-young admitted there are issues that need addressing, affirming, “As an internal director at ADOR, I have implemented various measures concerning this issue. Considering Hanni’s feelings and the escalating situation, I contemplate whether I could have taken better action.” She also noted that the manager referenced by Hanni does not belong to ADOR but is affiliated with another HYBE label.

In her reply, Hanni asserted, “I don’t believe CEO Kim Joo-young has fully exerted herself. Much more could have been accomplished. Although she claims to have been protective of us, there was a lack of genuine action or intent behind those statements. It appears that the maximum effort wasn’t reached. My hope is that she will sincerely strive for improvement moving forward. I fear that this issue will be ignored if not resolved promptly, and I wish for a swift resolution before any discussions about the future commence.”

With emotion, Hanni lamented, “I acknowledge that no legislation can rectify every issue in this world, but if we treat each other with respect as human beings, workplace harassment and bullying could be eradicated.”

Source: Daum , Daum

Source