“I Encouraged Her to Speak Up” — Hanni’s Mother from NewJeans Shows Support Before National Assembly Appearance

On October 10, 2024, Hanni from NewJeans shared an emotional message from her mother, highlighting their family’s support following her involvement in a National Assembly inquiry regarding bullying and workplace harassment. The heartfelt communication from her mother expressed the family’s distress since a notable incident at HYBE, yet they remain steadfast in their encouragement and backing for Hanni.

The K-pop star chose to share her mother’s message on NewJeans’ fan-engagement platform, Phoning, which included the following statement:

“It seemed that this situation would be a recurring issue in her life. We needed to prevent this cycle from continuing, and I urged her to come forward.”

The ‘Hype Boy’ singer’s presence at the National Assembly followed an urgent live stream on YouTube by NewJeans on September 11, 2024. During that session, Hanni disclosed an incident where the manager of another group under HYBE instructed her colleagues to disregard her when they encountered each other within the company’s premises.

Consequently, addressing the concerns surrounding ‘workplace bullying,’ the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee called upon ADOR’s CEO Kim Joo-young and HYBE’s Chief Human Resources Officer to testify, with Hanni added as a reference.

Heartfelt Message from NewJeans’ Hanni’s Mother

Hanni shared her mother’s touching message on Phoning, as her mother wished for it to reach the Bunnies (the fandom of NewJeans). Hanni wrote:

“This is a note my mother sent me. She requested that I share it with Bunnies, and since there was no other means to do so, I am posting it here.”

The message underscored the strong bond between Hanni and her mother, who conveyed her concerns and the trials of watching her child navigate challenging experiences outside their home.

Her mother expressed immense pride in Hanni for bravely voicing her thoughts and standing up for herself. Additionally, she stressed the importance of Hanni’s participation in the National Assembly, as it symbolizes her daughter’s journey through the past, present, and future. She articulated:

“Through this act, Hanni’s past, present, and future will unfold allowing her to achieve greater things in the years ahead. Her strength will stem from the genuine people who love and admire her, including her family; everything else is insignificant!”

Hanni’s Upcoming Testimony at the National Assembly

She reiterated her resolve to face the National Assembly inquiry independently, expressing:

“I am doing this for myself, my fellow members, and the Bunnies! I’ve chosen to take this step for you as well! It’s not a burden! I am eager to do this!!”

While Hanni did not name any specific artist or group in connection with the incident at the HYBE building, the company subsequently indicated that it involved Belift Lab’s new girl group, IILIT. This clarification led to IILIT facing considerable backlash from the NewJeans fandom. On October 7, 2024, Belift Lab issued an official response defending its staff and artists concerning the matter.

In light of this, on October 8, the mothers of NewJeans members collectively responded to Daily Sports, contesting Belift Lab’s assertions due to numerous inaccuracies. Their statement notably emphasized that the controversy was not merely about greeting etiquette but centered on another artist’s manager instructing the NewJeans members to disregard Hanni.

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