NewJeans/NJZ’s parents have issued a new statement accusing ADOR of “exploiting” Hanni’s residency status in South Korea and “recklessly disseminating” her personal information to media.
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The statement was posted on February 12 to the NJZ PR Instagram account launched by the band’s parents, announcing that Vietnamese-Australian member Hanni has been issued a new visa on February 11. Her previous E-6 (Entertainment) visa had expired last month, which led to reports claiming that she refused to sign extension documents prepared by ADOR.
“ADOR pressured both Hanni and her parents by using the sensitive issue of visas, which is naturally a delicate matter for foreign residents in Korea,” the statement read, as translated by Soompi. “They demanded her signature on an extension agreement that listed ADOR as her agency, stating that failure to comply could result in illegal residency.”
NJZ’s parents also accused the company of acting “inappropriately” by “submitting personal information and documents requiring her signature to relevant institutions without her consent and only notifying her afterward”.
The statement also addressed reports published by South Korean outlets that “irresponsibly used terms like ‘illegal resident’ and spread false rumours”. The band’s parents also highlighted a specific claim that said, ‘ADOR had prepared all the necessary documents for the visa extension and attempted to apply, but Hanni refused to sign’. “This contradicts ADOR’s statement in today’s articles that they were ‘unable to confirm’ the situation,” they wrote.
They also noted that “approximately 70 articles published over the past two days” have openly speculated about private details such as Hanni’s visa and its expiration date, which they called “a serious violation of personal rights”. The statement continued: “We express deep regret that sensitive information, which only ADOR, as the agency, could have access to, has been recklessly disseminated through the media.”
NJZ’s parents concluded the statement by adding that the mass publication and speculation of Hanni and NJZ’s personal information and immigration status has become “increasingly severe”, and that they are now “considering legal action to protect the members”.
When reached out to for comment, HYBE told NME that “the label has no further comment” regarding the claims made by NJZ’s parents.