Hanni’s solo stand, NewJeans star takes on K-Pop bullying at National Assembly

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It seems like South Korea’s music industry is about to get a shake-up, thanks to a surprising move by Hanni, a member of the global phenomenon NewJeans. The 20-year-old singer dropped a bombshell on her fans recently, announcing that she’s heading to the National Assembly to testify about bullying within the industry. Her decision came without a heads-up to her managers or record label, Ador, leaving everyone guessing about what could come next. “I believe going forward is the right thing to do, no matter how much I think about it,” she told her fans on social media, sounding resolute in her choice.

This bold step follows growing tensions between NewJeans and their label Ador, which first became public in an unexpected YouTube livestream on 11 September. During the now-deleted video, the group raised concerns about their treatment and even called for the reinstatement of their former mentor, Min Hee-Jin, who had been ousted over a controversial management shake-up. Accusations flew, with Hanni recounting how she had been snubbed by another girl group under the label’s watch. Fans took sides, with Belift Lab, the agency managing the other group, stepping in to deny any wrongdoing.

As tensions rose, the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee summoned Hanni and Ador CEO Kim Joo-young to testify in a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Oct. 15. She’s standing firm, stating she’s going solo to this parliamentary inspection, with no backing from her management. Her fans, known as Bunnies, are rallying behind her, but Hanni insists she’s taking this stand not just for herself, but for the group and their supporters. What happens next could change more than just the fate of NewJeans – it could challenge the culture of the K-pop industry itself.

(Source: NME | Geo.TV | Korea Times)


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