On October 15, lawyer Go Sang-rok of the Pill law firm, responding to TenAsia’s question on whether Hanni’s claims could be recognized as workplace bullying, if true, began by saying: “It’s very difficult.” He explained, “Even if we put aside the question of whether celebrities like Hanni are considered employees, we need to analyze whether Hanni’s unfair treatment constitutes workplace bullying. There are three key points to consider here.”
Lawyer Go underlined: “The manager quoted as saying ‘Ignore her’ is neither an employer of NewJeans nor a co-worker of NewJeans.” He further noted that even if they were considered co-workers, it would be very difficult to establish that the manager has a superior position in the relationship than the artist. Finally, he said it is almost impossible to prove this legally “the intention to bully the NewJeans” in the unfair treatment that Hanni claims.
He explained, “It is difficult to say with certainty that a single phrase like ‘Ignore her’ can be recognized as an act causing mental distress. We cannot judge based on that single incident without considering the entire context and circumstances before and after.” He added, “The claim that HYBE President Bang Si-hyuk did not return greetings is also very difficult to prove as intentional workplace bullying. Although the overall context might suggest that when analyzing each action individually, the case is certainly weak.”
However, Lawyer Go also stated: “Earning a lot of money doesn’t justify overworking yourself. If the Labor Standards Act fails to address this problem, it should be addressed through further legislative and administrative action. As social awareness increases, public discourse is also being formed and discussions are taking place.”
He continued, “Celebrities often start their social lives as minors, which puts them at greater risk of unfair treatment or exploitation, making social protection necessary. From a macroeconomic point of view, it is positive that a public debate is taking place to improve the overall structure of the sector and address these problems.”
On October 15, Hanni and NewJeans CEO Kim Joo-young appeared as witnesses at the National Assembly’s audit. Hanni revealed the circumstances surrounding the “Ignore her” incident and said unfair treatment within HYBE and ADOR continues. In response to Hanni’s claims, ADOR CEO Kim Joo-young said he had difficulty mediating due to the lack of video evidence from the day of the incident and vowed to carefully improve the situation.
Source: Daum
