Labor ministry dismisses NewJeans’ Hanni workplace harassment claims
New Jeans' Hanni arrives to testify at the National Assembly in Seoul on 15 October, 2024. Hanni, 20, who is Vietnamese-Australian, has spoken publicly about being bullied in the workplace, saying she overheard a manager linked to her agency's parent company instructing other idols to "ignore" her.
KIM Min-Hee / AFP
The Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on 20 November that it has dismissed allegations of workplace harassment involving Hanni, a member of the K-pop group NewJeans. The ministry clarified that Hanni does not qualify as a worker under the Labor Standards Act.
In September, fans of NewJeans filed a petition, alleging workplace bullying within Hybe, the parent company of ADOR, NewJeans’ label. However, the Seoul Western Labor Office rejected the petition, citing that Hanni’s management contract lacks the employer-employee relationship necessary for protections under the labor law.
"Hanni cannot be considered a worker under the Labor Standards Act, as the nature of her management contract does not reflect a subordinate employment relationship," the ministry stated.
In South Korea, entertainers like K-pop idols are typically classified as “exceptional entities” rather than workers. Their exclusive contracts are viewed as profit-sharing arrangements rather than traditional employment agreements, with taxes filed as business income.
The ministry further cited her lack of subordination to company regulations as a factor in its decision and referred to a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that categorized entertainer contracts as civil mandate agreements.