NewJeans’ Hanni Comments Fuel Controversy Over Discrimination: “Is a 5.2 Billion Won Idol Considered a Worker?”

On October 15, Hanni from NewJeans provided testimony to the National Assembly regarding bullying issues at HYBE. She highlighted the mistreatment experienced by the group and expressed strong criticism towards ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo-young. Many observers were not satisfied with Kim’s explanation regarding the missing CCTV footage, which only fueled suspicions of possible legal interference.

While it’s common for K-pop idols to participate in promotional activities at the National Assembly, it is unusual for a 20-year-old to openly discuss workplace bullying. The conflict appears to be intensifying between Min Hee-jin, a board member looking to renegotiate contracts, and Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE, with both parties seemingly attempting to undermine one another’s positions.

After Hanni’s testimony, worries escalated among NewJeans and their fanbase, known as Bunnies, regarding potential discrimination that could lead to diminished activities or even disbandment. Although HYBE has refuted these claims, concerns linger due to the group’s contribution of only 5% to overall sales, raising questions about the activation of contingency plans.

Speculations have arisen regarding Hanni’s role as a witness rather than Minji, who is often considered more assertive. Hanni was selected for this responsibility because of her personal experiences with bullying and her unique Vietnamese-Australian heritage, which some suggest could strategically shed light on discrimination issues at HYBE. She commented, “HYBE definitely dislikes us,” revealing that the members were often overlooked by Bang Si-hyuk despite their attempts to greet him.

Profile of NewJeans’ Hanni – 1st Australian K-pop Idol of Vietnamese Descent (2024 Updated)

In response, HYBE claimed that Bang Si-hyuk suffers from “facial recognition disability.” An insider from the music industry commented, “Now that Hanni is here, wouldn’t it have been more effective for her to directly mention Bang Si-hyuk instead of seeking an apology from a team manager? The main issues NewJeans faces seem to stem from Bang Si-hyuk, right?”

Bang Si Hyuk Seventeen NewJeans thumbnail

When asked about the importance of respecting workers’ human rights, Kim Joo-young stated, “Artists are not classified as workers,” raising concerns regarding how idols are treated despite their significant earnings. While they may hold subordinate contracts, successful idols often reach a status comparable to or even surpassing their agencies. A pointed remark highlighted the irony of struggling with student loan debts while earning 5.2 billion won (approximately 4 million USD) annually.

There are theories suggesting Hanni’s statements were intended to embarrass HYBE and diminish its leverage in negotiations with Min Hee-jin, especially if she is angling for substantial investment to take NewJeans with her. The penalty for terminating their contract is estimated to be around 300 billion won (approximately 230.77 million USD), a figure indicative of the average monthly sales over the previous two years. HYBE’s financial statements reveal that ADOR recorded sales of 110.3 billion won (about 84.85 million USD) last year, with each member purportedly earning 5.2 billion won shortly post-debut.

Source: Daum

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