[News Figures] Gwabangwi Faces Disruption, Hanwha Ocean Issues Apology... 'Hani' Arrives at National Audit Hearing

On the 15th, during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s audit, girl group NewJeans member Hani’s attendance caused disruptions in other standing committees, and on the same day, the CEO of a company who also appeared issued an apology, creating a spectacle. While it was hoped that the unusual appearance of a popular girl group member at the audit would give momentum to fundamental measures for those in the blind spots of labor laws, such as entertainers and special employment workers, the focus at the audit seemed to be more on the appearance of "Idol Hani."

NewJeans' Hani is speaking as a witness at the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee audit held on the 15th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Hani appeared at the audit to testify about workplace harassment at her agency. She claimed during a YouTube live broadcast with NewJeans members on the 11th of last month that she heard a manager from another group under HYBE say, "Pretend you didn’t see it, ignore it." When concerns were raised that such remarks could constitute workplace harassment, the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee selected Hani as a reference witness for this audit.

Hani said, "I couldn’t understand why I had to go through this, and I didn’t understand why such words were said in the first place in the work environment." She added, "This issue wasn’t a one-time thing. So I came here today because if I didn’t, I knew it would quietly pass and be buried." She also said, "I hope seniors, juniors, peers, and even the trainees here now don’t have to go through this."

Some expected Hani’s attendance at the audit to raise awareness about workplace harassment, but rather, attention was focused on the "idol" Hani who came to the audit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The first place where controversy arose was the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee’s audit of the Korea Communications Commission. Choi Min-hee, a member of the Democratic Party and chair of the Science and Technology Committee, squatted at the entrance to film Hani entering the National Assembly with her phone, and even met with her separately. This led members of the People Power Party to criticize this during the Science and Technology Committee audit. The ruling party raised suspicions that Chair Choi had left the meeting room during the audit to meet Hani, but Chair Choi and opposition members denied this, and as the dispute between the ruling and opposition parties intensified, the audit eventually broke down.

In the resumed meeting, Chair Choi said, "The reference witness (Hani) appeared before the Environment and Labor Committee at 2:32 p.m., and I left the Science and Technology Committee meeting room at 2:41 p.m." However, ruling party members protested, saying, "Was it right to meet someone who came to testify?" Park Jung-hoon, who had previously questioned Chair Choi on the matter, wrote on Facebook, "The essence is that Chair Choi used her privilege as a member of the National Assembly to go to the standing committee waiting room and meet separately with a NewJeans member who came to report 'workplace power harassment' to the National Assembly," and criticized, "Hani even shed tears before and after her testimony, but Chair Choi used her parliamentary privilege to satisfy her fan heart as a sasaeng fan."

At the Environment and Labor Committee, Jeong In-seop, CEO of Hanwha Ocean Geoje Plant, who appeared at the audit regarding worker deaths, was criticized for smiling and taking a "selfie" with Hani.

Jeong appeared as a witness related to the deaths of five subcontracted and direct workers at Hanwha Ocean this year. In January, a subcontractor employee died in a gas explosion accident, and a subcontractor diver also died during work. In August, an accident presumed to be due to heatstroke occurred, and on the 9th of last month, a worker died after falling about 30 meters during night work. Amid these serious accidents, Jeong’s conduct was criticized as inappropriate. Lawmakers said, "People are dying at the company, and you’re taking selfies? Is this something to laugh about?" and "You didn’t come here for a good reason."

Ultimately, Hanwha Ocean issued an apology in the name of the CEO, stating, "The behavior of our executive was very inappropriate while attending the National Assembly audit as a witness regarding the tragic accidents at the workplace," and apologized, saying, "We sincerely accept the lawmakers’ criticism and admonishment, and we caused concern to the National Assembly and the public due to imprudent behavior during an audit that should have been a time for reflection, apology, and consideration of measures to prevent recurrence." They also promised, "We will strengthen safety management capabilities until the workplace becomes a zero-risk, accident-free site."