The National Assembly's Labor and Environment Committee asked Hanni and CEO Kim Joo Young about issues related to idol bullying and workplace harassment.
Hanni becomes the first Kpop idol to appear at a Korean government inspection.
Previously, Hanni and the group NewJeans held a livestream on September 11. She recounted that another group manager in HYBE Group asked the members of that group to ignore Hanni when they met.
Hanni reported this to the new CEO of ADOR management company Kim Joo Young but it was not resolved.
“I don’t understand why I have to go through this,” Hanni said during the hearing. “But this problem doesn’t just happen once or twice.
If I hadn't come here today, everything would have gone quietly. And it could have happened to anyone. I come out with the hope that this shouldn't happen to my colleagues, seniors, juniors or interns."
Hanni went on to cite other instances to back up her claim that NewJeans was boycotted at HYBE.
“Since our debut, we have always greeted our staff and superiors, but they did not respond (referring to HYBE President Bang Si Hyuk). At first, I thought it was because I was a foreigner or because of cultural differences. But later I realized that ignoring greetings is disrespectful, no matter what position you are in.
Recently, I saw on Blind, HYBE staff cursing NewJeans. I also heard the recording of HYBE media team downplaying our debut performance in Japan.
These things made me confirm that what I was feeling was not just a feeling. I know HYBE hates us" - the female idol said.
When asked why Hanni thought HYBE didn't like NewJeans, she said, "It's because we debuted in a different way, not following the path that the company originally planned, and we were successful, so the company constantly took actions to put us down."
A delegate asked Hanni, "Is this related to the conflict between former CEO Min Hee Jin and CEO Bang Si Hyuk?"
Hanni replied: "It can't be unrelated. They didn't need to do those things to us, but they did, so I feel like I can't sit still forever."
During the hearing, Hanni once again asserted that it was true that she was ignored by another group's manager, and that the CCTV footage of this scene was deleted by HYBE's security staff, leaving only 8 seconds of greetings with another artist.
When Hanni reported to CEO Kim Joo Young, the female CEO said there was no evidence and the resolution was not satisfactory.
In response, Kim Joo Young said she believed what Hanni said, but the CCTV could not be restored so there was no evidence. She emphasized that she did her best.
Hanni replied, "I don't think CEO Kim Joo Young did her best. She could have done more. From the beginning, she said she would protect us, but if you really want to protect us, you have to fight for us.
However, you had no will to fight and no action, so I don't think you did your best."
When asked, “Did you say it in the hope that things like this will be better handled in the future?”, Hanni emphasized, “If I say it so that things will be better in the future, then maybe this will gradually be forgotten. So before talking about the future, I want the current situation to be resolved first.”
