ADOR CEO Kim Joo-young Addresses Human Rights of Artists as Workers During Parliamentary Hearing

On October 15, 2024, Hanni from NewJeans and ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo-young, testified before the National Assembly concerning workplace bullying and harassment issues. Following this event, the CEO’s remarks on the importance of recognizing workers’ human rights have garnered significant attention.

CEO Kim Joo-young remarked:

“While I acknowledge that artists are often not perceived as traditional workers, their classification is somewhat irrelevant. In our company, fostering a collaborative and respectful environment between artists and staff members is essential.”

The presence of the idol at the National Assembly was linked to a YouTube live session featuring NewJeans on September 11, 2024. During this livestream, Hanni disclosed that a manager associated with another HYBE artist had instructed them to disregard her. Furthermore, she said when she brought this issue to Kim Joo-young’s attention, it was met with indifference.

“I don’t believe you gave it your all”: Hanni voices her dissent to ADOR’s CEO

Hanni’s testimony focused on the issue of workplace bullying, while Kim Joo-young appeared as a witness. She emphasized that the situation she raised during the September livestream was not an isolated occurrence.

“This wasn’t the first or second instance. If I hadn’t come here to testify today, everything would have gone unnoticed, and I feared it would be forgotten, which is why I felt compelled to speak up.”

In response, CEO Kim Joo-young asserted that she took every possible measure, including attempting to recover the expired CCTV footage related to the incident. She expressed her belief in Hanni’s claims and noted she had been seeking evidence, albeit unsuccessfully.

Despite this, Hanni expressed her dissatisfaction with the CEO’s efforts, stating:

“I apologize, but I don’t think your efforts were satisfactory. You keep assuring us of your protection, but if you genuinely want to support us, you need to actively advocate for our rights. Currently, there’s a lack of real action, leading me to doubt your commitment.”

Additionally, she alleged that HYBE’s CEO Bang Si-hyuk disregarded their greetings, which she perceived as inappropriate and disrespectful.

In her closing remarks, Hanni asserted that if all individuals were treated with respect, workplace harassment would cease to exist. Through her testimony, she aims to promote a more positive work environment for her colleagues, mentors, juniors, and trainees.

She urged individuals to acknowledge their responsibilities without evasion. Notably, Hanni has distinguished herself as the first K-pop idol to offer testimony during a state audit. The Vietnamese-Australian singer also revealed that the Australian Embassy in South Korea has reached out to her parents.

Earlier this month, the mothers of NewJeans’ members conducted interviews to issue collective statements about alleged misleading comments from Belift Lab regarding the accusations against the manager who purportedly instructed another HYBE artist to ignore Hanni.

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