On February 12, the parent account for NewJeans (NJZ) has issued a statement to address recent false reports about Hanni’s visa status in South Korea.
The statement confirmed that Hanni legally obtained a new visa on February 11 and clarified that rumors about her being an illegal resident are false.
“Hello,
Over the past two days (February 11-12), numerous speculative articles regarding Hanni’s residency status in Korea have surfaced, spreading false information. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify the situation.
Hanni received a new visa on February 11 through legal procedures.
ADOR exerted undue pressure on Hanni and her family by using the sensitive issue of a foreign resident’s visa as leverage. They sent emails stating that if Hanni did not sign a visa extension consent form listing ADOR as her agency, she could become an illegal resident. Furthermore, they submitted documents requiring personal information and Hanni’s signature to relevant institutions without her consent, only notifying her afterward—an act that defies common sense.
Certain media outlets have irresponsibly used the term ‘llegal resident’ based on unverified claims, contributing to the spread of misinformation and even prompting unnecessary civil complaints. These reports cite ‘anonymous music industry officials’ as sources while disseminating false information. Notably, some articles today claim that “ADOR is unable to confirm” Hanni’s visa status, yet earlier reports stated that “ADOR prepared all necessary documents for visa extension, but the applicant refused to sign.”
In just two days, around 70 articles have been published containing speculative details about private matters, such as the type and expiration date of Hanni’s visa, which constitutes a serious infringement of her rights. It is deeply concerning that only ADOR—aside from Hanni herself—would have access to this private information, and yet it has been indiscriminately leaked to the media.
The unauthorized use or disclosure of personal information is unacceptable, and media outlets that publish articles without proper verification share responsibility for this issue. This is not the first time that private information about individual members has been misused, including tracking their immigration records. Given the increasing severity of these violations, we are considering legal action to protect the members.
Thank you for taking the time to read this statement. We sincerely apologize to our fans for any concern or discomfort this may have caused. Please take care of your health. Thank you.”
The account criticized ADOR, Hanni’s agency, for pressuring her family to sign a visa extension consent form and for submitting personal documents without consent. It also condemned media outlets for irresponsibly using the term ‘illegal resident’ and spreading unverified information from anonymous sources.
The statement highlighted the release of sensitive personal information in around 70 articles over the past two days and emphasized the violation of Hanni’s privacy. The parent account is considering legal action to protect the members and called for greater respect for their privacy. The post concluded by apologizing to fans for any distress caused and urging continued support for Hanni.
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