NewJeans Hanni breaks down during South Korean national assembly testimony on workplace harassment in K-Pop industry

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

Although the National Assembly’s harassment investigation has long recognized K-pop as a controlled segment of the music business, one of the industry’s greatest performers has spoken out against bullying.

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

Hanni said, “We are all human beings.” I believe a lot of people forget this. I realize that the contracts for artists and trainees may vary from those for normal employees.”

The Vietnamese/Australian K-pop singer said that Hybe Entertainment mistreated the group, claiming, “I realized that this wasn’t just a feeling.” The corporation’s hatred for us was quite convincing to me.

Hani emphasized that this was not a unique incidence, saying in her statement, “Since my arrival at NewJeans, we have seen someone in a high position multiple times, but he has never acknowledged me when I welcomed him. Living in Korea taught me that I must be friendly to elders since it is part of our culture, but I believe it is insulting to not welcome us as human beings, regardless of our professional standing.

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

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

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

“We took necessary measures, such as consulting with the brand’s employees regarding the manager in question, and we received an answer that nothing like that happened,” Kim reflected.

“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 remarks, and I have been looking for a means to back up her accusations, but we have unhappily failed.”

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