NewJeans’ Hanni Set to Attend National Assembly Hearing Amid “HYBE Harassment” Controversy

On October 9th, Hanni announced through the paid platform Phoning, “I’ve made my choice. I’m going to participate in the National Assembly audit. I’ll attend by myself. Please don’t worry. This decision is for my own sake, my fellow members, and the Bunnies (the name for my fandom).”

Addressing the concerns of her fans, Hanni reassured them, “This isn’t difficult for me. I genuinely want to go. First and foremost, I appreciate everyone who stands by me. I have never solicited support, and it’s not easy for people to remain loyal. The support we receive is given freely, without asking.”

She added, “It’s important to note that if your only means of support is to cheer for me, you shouldn’t feel guilty. Not at all! There’s no cause for concern. While I am uncertain about what the future holds, I see this as a significant opportunity for personal growth, which is another reason I’m eager to participate.”

On September 30th, the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly cleared 35 witnesses and reference individuals for the upcoming audit, with Hanni named as a reference person and Kim Joo-young, the CEO of ADOR, brought in as a witness.

The hearing on workplace harassment is set to occur on October 25th, raising expectations for discussions on this pressing issue.

Previously, during a YouTube live feed, Hanni recounted an incident at HYBE’s headquarters where she encountered another artist and their manager. Allegedly, the manager instructed the artist to “ignore her.”

After reporting this to ADOR’s CEO, Hanni was informed that there was insufficient evidence, and the time for action had passed, making her feel vulnerable and unprotected.

While there are provisions for witnesses and reference persons to provide justifications for their absence, Hanni has voluntarily chosen to participate, making her one of the few idols to attend the National Assembly within her third year of debut.

The allegations of bullying involving Hanni seemed to have quieted down until October 8th, when the mothers of NewJeans reignited the discussion, alleging in an interview that footage related to the bullying had vanished and accusing HYBE of covering up the incident.

In response, Belift Lab, another label under HYBE associated with the allegations, released a statement denying these claims.

They clarified that the only interaction between ILLIT and NewJeans at HYBE’s headquarters lasted approximately five minutes, during which members of ILLIT exited the elevator and bowed to Hanni who was in their path, a moment that was captured on video.

Source: Nate

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