Workplace Abuse 119: "If NewJeans Hani's claim of 'personnel neglect' is true, it constitutes workplace harassment"

Greeted Another Manager and Was Told "Ignore It"
"Constitutes Harassment Beyond Appropriate Work Boundaries"

As statements from NewJeans member Hanni emerged claiming that she was told to "ignore" others after greeting other HYBE managers, a civic group interpreted that if these claims are true, it could be considered workplace harassment.

On the 13th, Workplace Bullying 119 stated in a press release, as reported by Yonhap News Agency on the same day, "If the manager in charge ignored NewJeans member Hanni's greetings and instructed others to ignore the greetings of NewJeans members, such behavior can be seen as harassment exceeding the appropriate scope of work."

Girl group NewJeans is doing a YouTube live broadcast on the 11th.
[Image source=YouTube capture]

Earlier, during an emergency live broadcast on the 11th, NewJeans member Hanni claimed that while waiting in the hallway of the HYBE building, she greeted other team members and the manager in charge but was ignored. Hanni revealed that the manager said "ignore them" in front of her.

Under the Labor Standards Act, the criteria for workplace harassment include ▲using superiority in status or relationships at work ▲exceeding the appropriate scope of work ▲causing physical or mental pain or worsening the working environment. Regarding "exceeding the appropriate scope of work," the Ministry of Employment and Labor explains it as "acts such as group ostracism where a superior or multiple employees do not talk to or exclude a specific employee, and intentional ignoring or exclusion during work processes."

The organization pointed out, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor considers entertainers not to be workers under the Labor Standards Act," adding, "It is questionable whether it is appropriate to continue leaving idols in a blind spot of labor laws simply because they have exclusive contracts. Institutional improvements are needed to ensure idols' labor rights are protected."

Yoon Ji-young, a lawyer at Workplace Bullying 119, said, "For NewJeans, HYBE and ADOR are workplaces, and managers and other entertainer members are superiors and colleagues," adding, "Ostracism and being treated like invisible people are typical types of harassment and cause great pain to those affected. We must not ignore the suffering of idol singers by only formally considering whether they are workers under the Labor Standards Act or whether they belong to the same agency or not."

Meanwhile, the girl group NewJeans demanded HYBE and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk through a YouTube live broadcast on the 11th, saying, "We hope for the return of former CEO Min Hee-jin" and "Restore ADOR to its original state by the 25th." Since the conflict between former CEO Min and HYBE became public in April, this is the first time all five NewJeans members have made specific demands to HYBE and Chairman Bang.

Former CEO Min was abruptly dismissed from her position as CEO of NewJeans' agency ADOR on the 27th of last month, citing the "principle of separation between management and production." Although ADOR announced that Min would continue producing, Min has refused, citing toxic clauses. NewJeans members have not specified their response if Min does not return by the 25th of this month.