연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-10-15 15:47:19
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- Hanni, a member of the K-pop group NewJeans, appeared as a witness during the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee audit on the 15th.
She tearfully revealed that she had been subjected to ostracism, saying, "I became convinced that the company dislikes us."
Kim Joo-young, CEO of ADOR, who also testified, disputed Hanni's claims, stating, "There are differing accounts of the situation."
During the hearing, Hanni recounted an incident in response to a question from the committee chairperson, Ahn Ho-young.
She stated, "After finishing my hair and makeup, I was waiting in the hallway when a few other team members and a female manager walked past me, and I greeted them. About 5 to 10 minutes later, they came back, and I saw the manager make eye contact with me before telling the members behind her, 'Just pretend you didn't see her.'"
Hanni expressed her confusion over why she had to endure such treatment, questioning the necessity of such behavior in a professional setting. She emphasized, "This wasn't an isolated incident. I came forward today because I feared this issue would once again be brushed aside and forgotten if I stayed silent."
As a Vietnamese-Australian, Hanni noted, "This could happen to anyone in the future. I spoke up in hopes that no one—whether seniors, juniors, colleagues, or current trainees—has to experience this."
She further shared, "Since my debut, I encountered someone in a high position many times, but they never once acknowledged my greetings. Not responding to someone's greetings is, I believe, discourteous, regardless of one's profession."
She also mentioned, "There's a certain atmosphere within the company that I've sensed. It's hard to describe and difficult to speak about, but it's something only those who have experienced it would understand. It's not just the incident with that manager; I recently saw company staff disparaging NewJeans on the app Blind."
Hanni pointed out that while there is about 8 seconds of CCTV footage showing her greeting, the later parts are missing. She added, "To ensure I didn’t miss any important conversations, I recorded meetings and went in prepared," claiming to have evidence that CEO Kim Joo-young was lying.
She specifically criticized ADOR, saying, "I don't believe they did their best. If they truly wanted to protect us, they should have taken action or apologized." She called for a quick resolution to the matter before any future plans are discussed.
Hanni also highlighted that while contracts between artists and trainees may differ, "One thing that should not differ is our humanity. Many seem to forget that we are all human beings." Towards the end of her statement, she tearfully added, "If we respect each other as human beings, there shouldn't be any bullying or exclusion in the workplace. Those who have nothing to hide should come forward confidently, but it’s frustrating that they keep avoiding such situations."
In response, ADOR CEO Kim Joo-young acknowledged, "Regrettably, the situation remains one where both sides have differing accounts." He added, "I believe in Hanni’s words and am trying to find evidence to support her claims, but unfortunately, we have yet to secure such proof."
He promised, "As Hanni suggested, I will make more effort to listen to the voices of the artists and improve communication. We will cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Labor to clarify the facts."
Kim also vowed, "We will ensure that the voices and rights of Hanni and other artists are respected, allowing them to fully pursue their dreams and aspirations. I’ve been the CEO of ADOR for a month and a half. Please trust me and give us a bit more time to build a better company."
When questioned by Jeong Hye-kyung of the Progressive Party regarding an incident in September 2022 where a HYBE employee collapsed at the office and later died, Kim responded, "It was a tragic event where the individual, after being found unconscious, was taken to a hospital and passed away a few days later due to personal health issues. There was no cover-up involved."
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]