On October 15, Hanni, a member of the popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, broke down in tears as she testified to South Korean lawmakers about her experiences of workplace harassment. This testimony was part of a larger inquiry into bullying in the K-pop industry, which has long been known for its strict controls over its stars.
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K-pop has exploded globally thanks to groups like BTS, but within South Korea, the industry is notorious for the intense pressure it places on its young idols. Agencies often enforce rigid rules about their behavior and appearance, and idols frequently face severe backlash from fans for personal decisions, such as dating.
Hanni, a 20-year-old Vietnamese-Australian, shared an incident where a manager from another idol group linked to her agency told members of that group to ignore her. “I saw a manager along with three members from another group and said hello. When the manager saw me, she told the members to ‘ignore her as if you didn’t see her.’ I couldn’t understand why I had to go through this,” Hanni said.
This alleged mistreatment occurred during an ongoing conflict between NewJeans’ producer Min Hee-jin and Hybe, the company behind BTS. Hybe filed a legal complaint against Min, who was later replaced as the CEO of Ador, the label managing NewJeans.
During a livestream where the harassment was first discussed, all members of NewJeans expressed their support for Min’s reinstatement. Hanni hinted that the internal dispute between Hybe and Min may have contributed to the bullying she faced.
Hanni’s emotional testimony underscored the harsh realities many K-pop idols face. “I felt I couldn’t just sit idly by while such behavior continued,” she said. Her words resonated with the public, as many hope this will lead to better treatment for future stars in the industry.
