NewJeans, who recently rebranded as NJZ amid their ongoing legal battle with ADOR, received a major ruling on October 30. The Seoul Central District Court upheld the group’s exclusive contract with ADOR, marking a significant milestone in a case that has been ongoing since 2024.
Following the court verdict, member Hanni came under intense scrutiny. A viral post on Pann accused her of fabricating events, sparking heated debates across social media and calls for her to issue a public apology.
|@NewJeans_ADOR
“Shouldn’t NewJeans’ Hanni issue a public apology? All of this turned out to be a lie. It’s seriously creepy.” — Viral post on Pann read.
The origins of the controversy
The debate traces back to Hanni’s earlier statements about an alleged incident with ILLIT. She claimed a Belift Lab manager instructed other artists to ignore her, leaving her isolated as members passed by without acknowledgment. Her remarks painted a picture of unfair treatment within the group.
However, the recent court decision has challenged her account. The verdict placed responsibility on Min Hee Jin and noted that CCTV footage made it “difficult to accept that Hanni had experienced hostile behavior.” This finding contradicted Hanni’s claims, prompting many to question her statements.
Old posts resurface
Adding to the scrutiny, Hanni’s previous Instagram post about the incident resurfaced: “I remember everything clearly. I was going to say something in court, but I held it in. How can you take one part of a conversation and shift its meaning to benefit your point of view when I was the one who wrote that message? Whilst you present yourself as a company that wants the best for us. Please stop harassing me ADOR and HYBE.” — Hanni via Instagram
What was meant to explain her perspective has now been used by critics to suggest inconsistency, escalating demands for accountability.
Fans react and debate intensifies
The conversation has dominated Pann, surpassing 85,000 views. Many commenters criticized Hanni, calling her “a perpetrator” and urging her to publicly clarify the situation. The controversy underscores the intense scrutiny K-pop idols face in South Korea, where social media discourse and court rulings can collide with public perception.
“For real, she’s the perpetrator here.”
“It’s not just about a public apology, she could actually be prosecuted for perjury in the National Assembly. She should be grateful no one’s filed charges yet.”
“She’s not even human.”
“Really??? I bet a Korean judge would think he’s the one being harassed.”
“Isn’t she in her mid-20s? Why is she acting like a high schooler?”