Hanni appeared at the National Assembly to speak about being ignored and mistreated by her agency, ADOR. She shared multiple instances where she felt ostracized and expressed concerns about the hostile work environment. ADOR CEO Kim Jooyoung responded by stating the company is investigating but has not yet found evidence to support her claims.
The Testimony of Hanni at the National Assembly: Allegations of Neglect
On October 15, Hanni from the popular girl group NewJeans appeared as a witness at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee hearing. In tears, she spoke about the neglect and mistreatment she experienced within her agency, stating, “I became convinced that the company dislikes us.” According to Hanni, the emotional abuse had escalated to the point where she felt it necessary to testify. She recalled an incident where she was ignored by her team members and a female manager, saying, “The manager told the other members, ‘Pretend you didn’t see her.’” This, she explained, was not an isolated occurrence and prompted her to come forward, fearing the issue would be quietly brushed aside if she stayed silent.
Hanni’s Detailed Testimony of Workplace Harassment
During the National Assembly session, Hanni provided more specifics about her experiences. In response to a question from Chairman Ahn Ho-young, she explained, “After hair and makeup, I was waiting in the hallway when three other team members and a female manager walked by. I greeted them, but they ignored me.” She added, “Five to ten minutes later, they came out again, and I saw the manager make eye contact with me and tell the members behind her, ‘Pretend you didn’t see her.’” Hanni expressed confusion and distress over why such things were happening to her, questioning the appropriateness of such behavior in a professional environment. She stressed that this type of incident had occurred multiple times, which led her to testify before the National Assembly.
Hanni’s Broader Concerns About Workplace Environment and Future Impact
Hanni, who is of Vietnamese-Australian descent, stated that she testified not only for herself but for others who might face similar treatment. She emphasized, “This could happen to anyone, whether they are older people, juniors, colleagues, or current trainees.” She added that she hoped to prevent such behavior from being repeated. Hanni also recalled interactions with higher-ups within the company, noting that despite frequent encounters, they never acknowledged her greetings. She expressed her frustration, saying, “I think it’s disrespectful, not just as professionals, but as human beings.” Additionally, she pointed out the difficult atmosphere within the company, which she described as hard to explain but felt by those who experienced it. She mentioned seeing anonymous negative posts about NewJeans on Blind, an app used by company employees, adding to her concern about the hostile environment.
Hanni Accuses and Kim Jooyoung Responds at the National Assembly
When questioned by Representative Woo Jae-jun of the People Power Party about why she thought the company disliked her group, Hanni responded, “We debuted differently from other HYBE artists, and we’ve been successful. I feel like they’re trying to bring us down because of that.” She also pointed out that only an 8-second portion of the CCTV footage showing the other members greeting her was available, and the remaining footage was missing. She asserted, “I have evidence that ADOR CEO Kim Jooyoung is lying,” adding that she recorded meetings to ensure that important points were documented. Hanni concluded her testimony with a strong message, saying, “I don’t think the company did its best to protect us. If they had wanted to, they would have apologized or taken action. Before we talk about the future, I want this issue resolved quickly.”
ADOR CEO Kim Jooyoung, also present at the National Assembly, responded by acknowledging that Hanni and the company had conflicting accounts of the situation. He said, “I believe what Hanni has said, and I am doing my best to find evidence to support her claims. However, we have not been able to secure such evidence.” Kim promised to listen more carefully to the artists and to improve communication. He also assured that the company would fully cooperate with the ongoing Ministry of Labor investigation to clarify the facts.
Public Reactions to the Testimony of Hanni at the National Assembly
Hani’s testimony at the National Assembly caused a strong reaction among Korean netizens. Many questioned why she appeared before the National Assembly for an issue that seemed minor. They compared it to more serious labor concerns, like workplace accidents. On the popular online community FM Korea, the most liked comment asked, “Why did Hanni have to appear at the National Assembly for this?”
Others felt frustrated. They initially expected her testimony to be humorous but became angry as they watched. Some argued that workers die in accidents, while Hanni testified about a statement like “pretend you didn’t see her.”
There were also doubts about whether Hanni truly heard the phrase “ignore her.” Netizens questioned this, especially since she seemed to struggle with Korean during the testimony. Some pointed out that she admitted not understanding several questions from National Assembly members. They suggested that a translator would have been more appropriate.
Hanni also mentioned seeing anonymous posts on Blind criticizing NewJeans. However, others noted that Blind is a platform where even prominent figures like Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong get insulted. They thought it was absurd for her to use that as part of her testimony.
Overall, many felt her appearance at the National Assembly was unnecessary. They believed it could harm NewJeans, especially given the polarized nature of Korean politics.
Here’s a link to MLBPARK.
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SHe was disrepectful the the CEO, glared and side eyed her. Seems to be part of MHJs plan to leave HYBE without penalty. The assembly people taking pics, having NJs stickers on their computers was not a good look