The Growing Tensions Surrounding NewJeans: A Fight for Transparency and Fair Treatment
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| The Growing Tensions Surrounding NewJeans: A Fight for Transparency and Fair Treatment |
The K-pop industry is no stranger to controversies, with numerous allegations of mistreatment, power dynamics, and pressure on idols surfacing over the years. However, recent revelations surrounding NewJeans' member Hanni have brought forth an issue that has struck a chord with fans, parents, and even members of the South Korean parliament. The situation has escalated to the point where Hanni, along with her group members' mothers, have taken a stand against the management at ADOR and HYBE, raising concerns about workplace bullying, disrespect, and the mishandling of evidence.
Hanni's Decision to Attend the Parliamentary Audit
In an unexpected move, Hanni recently declared her intention to attend a parliamentary audit. This decision came after months of frustrations, accusations, and denials from HYBE and Belift Lab concerning an incident that Hanni brought to light in August. Hanni, in a fan communication platform, shared her determination: "I've made my decision. I'm going to the National Assembly for the audit." She added confidently, "I'll be going alone. You don't need to worry. I'm doing this for myself, the members, and for Bunnies (NewJeans' fans). There's nothing difficult!! I want to go!!"
Fans were naturally concerned, but Hanni reassured them that her decision was based on a desire to protect her group, her fans, and herself. Her appearance at the National Assembly would be in response to being selected as a reference witness by the Environment and Labor Committee (ELC) for an upcoming audit related to workplace harassment at HYBE.
The Incident: Ignored by Another Artist
The root of this issue dates back to an emergency live broadcast held by NewJeans on August 11, where Hanni made a startling revelation. According to her, while she was waiting in the hallway of HYBE's building, she greeted another artist. However, when she encountered them again, their manager allegedly told the artist to "ignore her." This revelation shocked fans and drew widespread attention, leading the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee to summon both Hanni and HYBE's Chief Human Resources Officer, Kim Joo Young, to provide testimony regarding workplace mistreatment.
Accusations of a Cover-Up: The Role of CCTV Footage
Following Hanni’s revelation, the mothers of NewJeans members stepped forward, attempting to clarify the incident and rectify what they viewed as misinformation spread by Belift Lab. The mothers, in their statements to the media, pointed out that while CCTV footage of the initial greeting existed, the critical part showing the manager telling the other artist to ignore Hanni had been deleted. This deletion, they argued, appeared suspicious and raised concerns about a potential cover-up.
In an interview with Ilgan Sports on October 8, the mothers disclosed that they had repeatedly asked ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo Young, to release a corrected statement. According to them, the initial statement issued by Belift Lab on October 7 contained numerous factual errors. The mothers felt that the company had not addressed the core issue: the mistreatment of Hanni by another artist’s manager. They had requested that Kim Joo Young, as the head of ADOR, personally clarify the situation, but he refused, stating that any statement would likely lead to an endless cycle of rebuttals.
One of the mothers, Ms. A, explained, "We asked Belift Lab to release a corrected statement because the facts in their initial statement were very different from the truth, but they refused, so we had no choice but to reach out to you again."
Belift Lab's Response: Denial and Deflection
In response to the allegations, Belift Lab strongly denied that any such mistreatment had occurred. According to their statement, after reviewing the CCTV footage and investigating the incident, they found no evidence to support the claim that any NewJeans member had been ignored. The statement further asserted that the protocol team member of the other artist’s label had not made any such remark. Belift Lab insisted that no wrongdoing had taken place, and the controversy surrounding the greeting incident was baseless.
Belift Lab also claimed that Min Hee Jin’s side, the former CEO of ADOR, had viewed the footage and changed their stance after seeing it. However, the NewJeans' mothers were quick to challenge this claim. They clarified that only Hanni and a single manager had seen the footage, raising doubts about the company’s honesty.
One of the mothers, Ms. C, emphasized, "From the beginning, we were told that only the person involved could check the CCTV, so Hanni and one manager went to view the footage. Why are they now claiming that ‘Min Hee Jin’s side’ saw it and changed their stance? Only Hanni and one manager saw the footage. But Belift Lab is now saying that Min Hee Jin’s side saw it and changed their argument. It’s terrifying how they keep changing their story and making things up."
The mothers voiced their suspicions that the company may have deliberately deleted key footage to hide the truth. One mother stated that the security guard had mentioned the video of Hanni being ignored was erased because they thought the greeting was enough and did not need further preservation.
The Struggle for Fair Treatment: A Long Battle
This controversy isn't new, as the mothers of NewJeans had been trying to address these issues internally long before the situation reached the public. According to Ms. B, the parents first raised concerns on June 13, sending formal emails to ADOR’s board of directors, asking them to identify the managers involved in the alleged mistreatment of Hanni. Despite their repeated attempts to resolve the issue, the company gave no proper response.
The mothers continued their communication with ADOR and HYBE throughout June and July, but their requests for action were largely ignored. By August 14, when the CCTV footage was reviewed, the mothers claimed they had not seen any footage themselves. Belift Lab's claim that Min Hee Jin’s side raised new arguments after reviewing the footage was met with skepticism, as the mothers insisted that they had never viewed the footage before this date.
Another mother, Ms. D, highlighted the lack of transparency in the company’s handling of the footage, stating, "We were relieved when they said they had secured the footage, but we still had concerns because there was no sound, and you couldn’t read the lip movements." She added that the company’s explanation—that the remaining footage was deleted because the storage period had expired—was difficult to accept.
Ms. D also criticized the company’s attempts to distance themselves from responsibility by blaming external entities, such as a "security company," for deleting the footage. She argued that the decision to review and delete the footage was clearly made within HYBE's organization, and Belift Lab’s narrative was an attempt to distort the facts.
The Mothers' Stand: Protecting Their Children
The mothers of NewJeans remain resolute in their stand against what they view as an unfair and misleading portrayal of the events. They have repeatedly emphasized that their issue is not with the "greeting incident" itself but with the larger problem of how HYBE and ADOR have treated their children. They argue that the company’s failure to take responsibility, along with the inconsistencies in their statements, reflect a broader pattern of mistreatment.
One mother pointed out, "HYBE and Belift Lab continue to distort the essence of the issue and show no reflection for their attempts to cover it up and downplay the incident. We only want to ensure that our children do not face such problems again, but I don’t understand why they keep making things up that don’t exist."
The controversy has now reached the highest levels, with ADOR’s CEO Kim Joo Young being called as a witness in the National Assembly’s inspection into workplace bullying, with Hanni serving as a reference witness. The mothers are determined to see this issue through, hoping to protect their children from further mistreatment and ensure that the truth comes to light.
Conclusion: A Call for Accountability
The ongoing conflict between NewJeans' members, their parents, and HYBE/Belift Lab reflects a deeper issue within the K-pop industry—one of transparency, power dynamics, and accountability. While the companies involved have denied the accusations and attempted to shift the narrative, the persistence of the NewJeans members' mothers in seeking justice for their daughters has kept the spotlight on this issue.
As the parliamentary audit approaches, all eyes will be on Hanni and ADOR’s CEO Kim Joo Young as they address the allegations of workplace bullying and mistreatment. This case could set a precedent for how the industry handles similar issues in the future, and fans, as well as industry insiders, are eagerly awaiting the outcome. In the end, this is not just about a greeting—it’s about ensuring that the voices of those who feel mistreated are heard and that justice is served.
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