NewJeans Hanni breaks down during South Korean National Assembly testimony on workplace harassment in the K-Pop industry

ALBAWABA – Hanni, a member of NewJeans, shed tears before the Environment and Labor Committee of South Korea’s National Assembly during an investigation into allegations of workplace abuse and harassment.

While the National Assembly’s harassment investigation has long recognized K-pop as a controlled segment of the music industry, one of the industry’s biggest artists has spoken out against bullying.

Hanni couldn’t hold back the tears when she testified about her work experiences before the Environment and Labor Committee on Tuesday, October 15.

Hanni said, “We are all human.” I believe many people forget this. I realize that the contracts for artists and interns may differ from those for regular employees.”

The Vietnamese/Australian K-pop singer said Hybe Entertainment was mistreating the group, claiming, “I realized this wasn’t just a feeling.” The company’s hatred of us was quite compelling to me.

Stressing that this was not a unique occurrence, Hani said in her statement: “Since my arrival at NewJeans, we have seen someone in a high position several times, but he never acknowledged me when I welcomed him. Living in Korea taught me that. I have to be kind to the elderly because it is part of our culture, but I believe it is insulting not to welcome us as human beings regardless of our professional status.

“I once ran into another idol group member and their manager at the cosmetics counter, where I often see other idol groups,” she continued. I heard the boss shout loudly, ‘Ignore her.'”

She continued, “I felt like the people who could protect us had left and had no intention of protecting us.” I immediately felt like a liar. Representative Min Hee-jin fought for us, but our current representatives have not.

According to The New York Times, Kim Joo-young, current CEO of ADOR, was also there to address concerns about her intentions to address harassment at the company after Hani’s experience.

“We took the necessary measures, such as consulting with the brand’s employees about the manager in question, and we received the response that nothing like this happened,” Kim reflects.

“I have taken the utmost precautions, including requesting access to the CCTV footage, but there are conflicting claims from both parties.” I trust Hani’s comments and I have looked for a means to substantiate her accusations, but unfortunately this has not been possible.”

On September 11, NewJeans hosted a livestream on YouTube (now deleted) to demand the reinstatement of the group’s founder, Min Hee-jin, as CEO of ADOR, a subsidiary of Hype.