Voices of dissent are uncommon in the tightly-controlled K-pop industry, making the upcoming testimony of a prominent star regarding workplace bullying at a South Korean parliamentary hearing particularly noteworthy.
The key witness, Hanni, 20, a member of the popular K-pop group NewJeans, has been involved in a public dispute with her label, Hybe, which also manages the globally successful group BTS.
During her testimony, Hanni, whose real name is Pham Ngoc Han, primarily recounted an incident she had previously discussed publicly. She described how a Hybe employee managing another K-pop group instructed its members to “ignore” her. Hanni stated, “I was told that because there wasn’t any evidence, there was nothing that could be done,” expressing that she had faced multiple similar incidents and felt disrespected by the company's leadership.
Kim Ju-young, the CEO of Ador, the Hybe subsidiary employing Hanni, mentioned at the hearing that she investigated the incident but could not reach a conclusion due to conflicting accounts.
The Environment and Labor Committee of South Korea's National Assembly is examining working conditions in the entertainment sector, where many performers lack protection under labor laws. An Ho-young, the committee's head, emphasized the need for lawmakers to safeguard entertainers' rights.
The K-pop industry is known for its rigorous and sometimes harsh training practices. There have been reports of abuse within management, as seen with groups like Omega X, and other artists have claimed they were compelled to work under inequitable contracts.
The ongoing conflict between Hybe and NewJeans revolves around the group's executive producer, Min Hee-Jin, who was replaced earlier this year by Kim Ju-young as the head of Ador. Both Min and NewJeans have publicly expressed their grievances, with the group demanding Min's reinstatement by September 25. That deadline has since passed without any indication from the group about severing ties with the label.