K-pop star to testify on music industry bullying

Hanni, a prominent member of the K-Pop girl group NewJeans, has recently made a significant announcement regarding her intention to testify before South Korea's National Assembly about bullying within the music industry. This decision came as a surprise to many, as Hanni chose to act independently, without prior consultation with her management team or her record label, Ador. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, she expressed her belief that taking this step was essential, stating, 'I believe going forward is the right thing to do, no matter how much I think about it. ' This announcement follows a recent live stream on YouTube where Hanni and her fellow band members voiced their concerns about their treatment by Ador. NewJeans has achieved remarkable success, ranking as one of the top-selling music acts globally last year, with catchy hits like SuperShy and OMG. However, the group has faced challenges, particularly with their former mentor and label CEO, Min Hee-Jin, who was dismissed earlier this year amid allegations of attempting to take control of NewJeans and Ador. Min has denied these accusations. During the now-deleted YouTube livestream, the group called for Min's reinstatement and shared their experiences of workplace harassment. Hanni recounted an incident where she was instructed to be ignored by the members of another band when she attempted to greet them. After reporting this incident to Ador's new CEO, Kim Joo-Young, Hanni felt her concerns were dismissed, saying, 'Seeing her ignoring the issue made me feel like there was no one to protect us. ' The situation escalated into a public dispute between fans of NewJeans and another girl group, Illit, who were rumored to be involved in the bullying. In response to the growing controversy, the agency representing Illit, Belift Lab, issued a statement denying any wrongdoing, asserting that their members had always been polite to NewJeans. They claimed to have reviewed footage showing Illit members bowing to Hanni on the day of the incident, although they could not provide evidence of subsequent interactions. The dispute has drawn the attention of South Korea's Environment and Labour Committee, which has summoned both Hanni and Kim Joo-Young to testify in an upcoming audit on workplace harassment. In her statement, Hanni reassured her fans, saying, 'I've made my decision. I'm going to go the National Assembly. A parliamentary inspection! ' She expressed gratitude for the support she has received and emphasized that her actions are for herself, her bandmates, and their dedicated fans, affectionately known as Bunnies. Hanni concluded by stating, 'No, it's not difficult. I want to do this.