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NewJeans Group's Hanni has previously raised concerns about workplace harassment
South Korean pop star Hanni has made a surprise announcement, announcing that she will testify before the country's National Assembly during a hearing into bullying in the music industry.
The singer, who is part of the girl group NewJeans, said she made the decision without informing her managers or her label Ador.
“I think moving forward is the right thing to do no matter what I think about it,” she wrote to fans on social media.
This comes after she and the four other members of her group raised concerns about their treatment by Ador during an impromptu YouTube livestream on September 11.
The group was the eighth best-selling act in the world last year, scoring international hits with feathery, retro songs like SuperShy and OMG.
However, their mentor and label general manager, Min Hee-Jin, was removed from her position earlier this year amid allegations that she planned a hostile takeover that would make NewJeans and Ador independent of their parent label, Hybe . Min has denied the accusations against her.
In the group's YouTube video, which has since been deleted, they called for Min's reinstatement; and made allegations of workplace harassment.
Hanni said that when she welcomed members of another band to their record company's offices, their manager asked them to “ignore her.”
The 20-year-old reported the incident to Ador's new chief executive, Kim Joo-Young, but said her concerns were dismissed.
“She told me it was too late and that I had no proof. Seeing her ignore the problem made me feel like there was no one to protect us,” Hanni said during the live broadcast.
The accusation sparked a war of words between NewJeans fans and girl group Illit – who were rumored to be the antagonists.
As the dispute intensified, the agency managing Illit, Belift Lab, was forced to deny the claim.
“Illit leadership never asked anyone to 'ignore' NewJeans members, and Illit members always greeted NewJeans when they passed by,” the agency said.
Belift said he viewed a video showing Illit members bowing to Hanni on the day of the incident – but that footage of their subsequent interactions was not available.
The agency also denied claims by NewJeans members' parents that these later images were intentionally removed.
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NewJeans is one of the most successful groups of the current K-Pop era
The row eventually caught the attention of South Korea's Environment and Labor Committee, which summoned Hanni and Kim Joo-Young to testify at an audit into workplace harassment later this month.
In his statement, Hanni told his fans: “I have made my decision. I will go to the National Assembly. A parliamentary inspection!
“I'm going alone. They still don't know…neither my managers nor the company.”
The singer thanked his fans for their support and reassured them that they had “no need to worry.”
“I'm doing this for myself and for the members (of NewJeans), and also for the Bunnies (fans),” she added.
“No, it's not difficult. I want to do that.”
