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NewJeans member Hanni's appearance as a witness before the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee has generated significant public attention, particularly due to her statements regarding workplace issues within the entertainment industry. This involvement is set against a backdrop of ongoing contract disputes and legal challenges involving NewJeans and their agency, ADOR, making her testimony a focal point of discussion.
Hanni testified in October 2024 about bullying and human rights concerns in the K-pop industry. Bloggers have highlighted specific points of contention, including her claim that ILLIT members offered a casual greeting, which was reportedly contradicted by CCTV footage showing a 90-degree bow. Another issue arose from her testimony about being instructed by an ILLIT manager to ignore them, a detail she later admitted she could not recall the exact wording of from her KakaoTalk conversations with Min Hee-jin. Furthermore, her statement in a communication app about attending the parliamentary audit without company consultation was questioned after she was photographed meeting with Min Hee-jin and a lawyer the day prior. The Ministry of Labor concluded in November 2024 that Hanni could not be classified as an employee under the Labor Standards Act, closing the related complaint. Issues regarding her E-6 visa extension and residency qualifications also arose but were resolved with a new visa issued through proper procedures.
Local bloggers have expressed varied perspectives on these events. One blogger questioned the consistency of Hanni's statements, while another noted that despite the controversies, Hanni's decision to remain with ADOR, following a court ruling in October 2025 confirming the validity of NewJeans' contract, signals a potential return to group activities. The release of new content featuring all four members (Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein) in July 2026 has rekindled expectations for NewJeans' normalized activities, even as separate legal and reputational risks, such as an accusation against ADOR concerning Hanni's visa information leakage in July 2026, continue to emerge.
