Hanni, a member of the K-pop group NewJeans, has been reported for illegal stay in South Korea.
An anonymous citizen recently filed a complaint with the National Civil Complaint System regarding Hanni’s alleged illegal stay. On January 10th, the Seoul Immigration Office of the Ministry of Justice stated, “We will take appropriate action once the employment relationship between the parties is resolved.”
Hanni, who holds dual nationality from Australia and Vietnam, requires an extension of the ‘E-6 visa’ (entertainment visa) to continue her stay and activities in South Korea. Foreign entertainers in the country typically use this visa to work.
The E-6 visa is usually issued for one year, with the agency renewing it annually. It is reported that Hanni’s visa, issued through her agency ADOR, is set to expire early this year.
There have been concerns about potential issues with Hanni’s visa renewal, as she is currently in a dispute with ADOR over her exclusive contract. Since the issuance of the visa requires the involvement of the agency, there were speculations that the ongoing dispute with ADOR could lead to complications in visa matters. Hanni may not be able to ask ADOR for help or find a new agency while the dispute is ongoing.
Regarding the report of illegal stay, the Seoul Immigration Office commented, “It is difficult to provide details on the personal matters of a specific foreign individual regarding violations of the Immigration Control Act.” However, they clarified that for foreign entertainers staying on an E-6 visa, the immigration status and period of stay are determined based on their employment contract with a domestic agency. “Once the employment relationship is resolved, we will take the necessary actions,” the office added.
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