NewJeans Hanni's 'should not happen to seniors, juniors...' statement backfires; fans ask why is she supporting her colleague’s mistreatment

While 22 people were killed — including 18 Chinese nationals — in a massive fire at a lithium battery factory, and Hanwha Ocean was banned from operation for a month due to violations of 61 regulations, the South Korean National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee chose not to address these critical issues. Instead, they invited K-pop idol Hanni of NewJeans to speak on workplace bullying during a state audit. The artist attended the hearing alone, and while her statements were not new—having been discussed by her and her group before—they shed light on HYBE's founder Bang Si Hyuk and the neglect she experienced.

ALSO READ | Why are NewJeans fans targetting ILLIT for their Paris Fashion Week 2024 appearance?

However, one of her statements seemed to backfire. She mentioned that she came to speak out so that bullying would not continue to affect colleagues, seniors, juniors, or trainees. This prompted fans of groups affected by her former CEO Min Hee Jin to question why she was siding with someone who had bullied many—her juniors ILLIT and her seniors Le Sserafim and others—during the HYBE vs. Min Hee Jin feud.

ALSO READ | NewJeans ready to leave HYBE? Girls give agency 2-week ultimatum to restore Min Hee Jin as ADOR CEO

Hanni said, "I talked about the incident on a live broadcast with the NewJeans members previously. While getting my hair and make-up done, I greeted a member of another team, and when I came out again, their manager told them to ignore me as if they hadn't seen me. I don't understand why I had to face this, and I don't understand why such things were said in a working environment. I came today because I know that if I didn’t, this topic would be buried, and these s of things may continue happening in the future. I believe this should not happen to colleagues, seniors, juniors, or trainees."

NewJeans’ Hanni during her speech at the National Assembly:

— "I talked about the incident on the live broadcast with the NewJeans members previously. While getting my hair and make-up done i greeted a member of other team, and when I came out again, their manager told them to… pic.twitter.com/B1wCAw8Dsb

— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) October 15, 2024

Fans from various groups took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to ask her when she would show support for the groups being harassed due to her former CEO. Many expressed confusion over why the girls seem determined to bring Min Hee Jin back as CEO, despite HYBE stating it won’t happen.

listen I respect her for standing up for her group and breaking the standards of "idols not defending themselves" BUT isn't it ironic how she says this and then goes and supports MHJ who was the reason other hybe idols received an insane amount of bu3llying and hate trains https://t.co/xH3cBCY6Rj

— wassy 🇵🇸🫧 (@aristocatz06) October 15, 2024

I do feel sad Hanni has to go through that but she cannot be claiming to stand up for other groups when she supports a woman who has started a hate campaign against two groups (several minors mind you), not to mention the SA case she buried.
It reads as hypocrisy. https://t.co/NFDtmKlYp6

— Auxi (@auximua) October 15, 2024

I’m all in for idols protection and healthier workplace but this means nothing when you publicly and proudly siding with mhj multiple times although it’s been known that mhj did dirty things against y’all too. Poor girls, nj including lsf illit, and all idols. https://t.co/hgXYuwPRxs

— 🍪 (@_heyitsmonde) October 15, 2024

“I believe that this should not happen to colleagues, seniors, juniors, or trainees.”....but is supporting a woman bullying a rookie and innocent groups??????? https://t.co/uIbmGf7lpz

— raf (@jakecuult) October 15, 2024

Yet she’s supporting someone who’s literally trying to bring hate to a bunch of her “colleagues, seniors, juniors, or trainees” just so they can gain more power. Also, the members have been rude to the new management which are still their coworkers regardless but okay. https://t.co/JeqzQFeKDg pic.twitter.com/syrVa71I4l

— 💛 (@beehybe7) October 15, 2024

imagine being an idol actually facing abuse/bullying and you see her at the national assembly crying over this…she needs to be ashamed of herself https://t.co/hVLmNqYUkT

— jay⁷ (@daegustime) October 15, 2024

Currently, while politicians have shown one-sided support for Hanni, this has not sat well with many Koreans who wanted an unbiased state audit. Some were even angered to see her taking selfies with the CEO of Hanwha Ocean, who was fined around 300 million won for the deaths that occurred in his organization.

However, she and NewJeans fans have been showing their relentless support to the girls, with many hoping either the members leave HYBE or get the proper treatment they deserve.

That's the CEO of Hanhwa Ocean and he was literally summoned to the National Assembly coz his company was fined around 300M won & even banned from operation for a month because they violated 61 regulations and 5 laborers passed away in less than a year as a result,,a whole circus… https://t.co/FYjd1PZopo

— Rize⁷ (kinda ia) (@rize07addict) October 15, 2024

Hanni speaking up not only for herself and her group but also to protect other idols in this terrible industry at such a young age is really such an inspiration and I'm so proud of her. fighting hanni!! 💗 https://t.co/i9n6zgsLkk

— putashoe ☆ミ (@bpnmixx) October 15, 2024

when someone is finally speaking up about their mistreatment in a BIG SCALE, first thing yall do is call them a hypocrite? an attention seeker? she is trying to bring attention to companies that fail to protect their idols. she has the power to do this for the idols that cant https://t.co/qimnVCTOIc

— jan (@304_members) October 15, 2024

HYBE vs Min Hee Jin:

It all started in April 2024, HYBE Corporation initiated an internal audit of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin after uncovering her alleged plans to take control of ADOR and NewJeans and leave HYBE. The company filed a criminal lawsuit against her for breach of contract and disclosure of company secrets, demanding her resignation.

After months of drama, a recent court hearing led to mutual accusations: Min claimed HYBE copied NewJeans to create ILLIT, while HYBE accused Min of seeking a new investor to sever ties. On September 13, Min filed for an injunction to hold an extraordinary shareholder meeting and reinstate herself as CEO. 

ADOR's board removed her as CEO on August 27, appointing Kim Ju-young as the new chief. While ADOR offered to keep Min on the board on September 25, they refused to reinstate her as CEO, which she dismissed as "a disguise." The court will accept additional evidence until October 25 and plans to issue a ruling by the end of the month. Min's board term is set to expire on November 2 without extension.

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