NewJeans’ Hanni confirms she will testify at national audit on bullying in K-pop industry
NewJeans member Hanni has told fans that she will testify at an upcoming national audit on bullying in K-pop industry.
Earlier this month, NewJeans’ Hanni was invited by the Environment and Labor Committee of South Korea to testify as a reference witness for an upcoming national audit that will address workplace harassment issues in the entertainment industry.
While reference witnesses are not obligated to attend the audit, the Vietnamese-Australian K-pop singer announced on Wednesday (October 10) that she plans to testify at the audit.
“I’ve decided! I’m going to the National Assembly! For the National Assembly hearing! I’ll go alone,” she wrote on fan community app Phoning, per Korea JoongAng Daily. “Don’t worry. I’m doing this for myself, my members and for Bunnies [NewJeans’ fandom]. I decided to go for Bunnies. I’m not afraid. I want to go.”
In her messages, the singer added that she had thought “long and hard” about attending the audit. “I’m uncertain about the outcome, but I believe this experience will be a valuable learning opportunity,” Hanni said.
Last month, NewJeans held a surprise livestream to voice their support for ex-ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin amid her ongoing feud with HYBE. During the stream, Hanni alleged that the manager of another HYBE group had told them to “ignore her” when they crossed paths at the company’s headquarters.
In a recent interview, the mothers of two NewJeans members criticised HYBE and new ADOR CEO Kim Ju-young’s investigation of the matter. They also questioned its neutrality and accused them of deleting CCTV footage that supported Hanni’s claims.
Meanwhile, HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab has come forward in a statement denying that its staff had instructed artists to “ignore” any NewJeans member. The label said that its staff are “complaining of extreme injustice and mental distress” due to these claims.
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Gladys Yeo
NME
