ADOR Expresses Full Support for NewJeans' Hanni Amid 'Ignore Her' Controversy

연합뉴스 / 2024-11-28 04:51:01

▲ NewJeans' Hanni speaks at a parliamentary labor committee meeting in Seoul on Oct. 15, 2024, to talk about alleged workplace bullying. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- The agency of NewJeans, ADOR, has stated its full trust in member Hanni's claim that she was subjected to a dismissive remark from a manager at girl group ILLIT's agency, Belift Lab.

In a statement released on Wednesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, ADOR asserted, "Hanni clearly recalls hearing a Belift Lab staff member say 'ignore her' or words to that effect about her on May 27. ADOR fully trusts our artist's account and deeply regrets the harm caused to Hanni."

This marks the latest development in a dispute between Hanni and Belift Lab regarding whether the remark was made. While Hanni maintains that the comment occurred, Belift Lab has denied such an incident.

On November 13, NewJeans members issued a formal notice to ADOR demanding an official apology from the manager in question. They warned that if ADOR failed to address their concerns, including the matter of this incident, within 14 days, they would terminate their exclusive contracts.

While ADOR had remained silent on the matter until now, the agency broke its silence on the 13th day after receiving the formal notice, siding with Hanni. The statement was introduced with the phrase, "Actions in accordance with the artist's formal notice."

▲ This official statement by ADOR, the management of K-pop girl group NewJeans, is captured from the firm's post on X on Nov. 27, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

"We have maintained a cautious stance thus far out of concern that disputes over facts could spark unnecessary controversy involving our artist," ADOR said. "It is overly harsh and unreasonable to demand that Hanni recall every detail of an incident that occurred in a relatively brief moment in order to raise the issue."

The agency added, "We hope that Belift Lab will not dismiss Hanni's concerns lightly and will demonstrate mutual respect in addressing the matter."

NewJeans members urged the reinstatement of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin in their formal notice. With Min's recent departure from her position as a director at ADOR, speculation has grown over how the situation may influence NewJeans' next steps.