NewJeans Hyein Changes Profile to 'Democratic Party Bernies'... Deletes It After 'Political Color' Controversy

NewJeans Hyein and Hani Change Profile Pictures After National Assembly Audit
Characters Wearing Blue Jackets, Symbolic Color of the Democratic Party
Unexpected 'Political Color' Controversy... Eventually Removed Photos

NewJeans member Hyein changed her profile picture on the fan communication platform 'Poning' to a 'blue Bernies' character following fellow member Hani's attendance at the National Assembly audit, sparking an unexpected 'political color' controversy.

On the 15th, Hyein replaced her Poning profile picture with an image of NewJeans' rabbit character 'Bernies' wearing a blue jacket after Hani's National Assembly audit. The character is identical to the one attached to the laptop of Park Hong-bae, a Democratic Party lawmaker who was conducting the questioning that day.

As controversy arose among fans claiming "Hyein showed political colors," she changed the same photo to a 'black-and-white version.' This appeared to be in response to criticism that the character was wearing a jacket in the Democratic Party's symbolic color. When the controversy continued despite the photo change, Hyein soon switched her profile picture to a photo of the moon.

Park Hong-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared at the National Assembly audit on the 15th carrying a laptop with a NewJeans rabbit sticker attached.
[Photo by MBC broadcast screen capture]

Some fans expressed discomfort, saying, "It's uncomfortable when idols show political colors," "Don't openly support a specific party," and "Why post such photos on a fan communication platform?" On the other hand, some defended Hyein, saying, "It's just an expression of interest in Hani's audit attendance," and "It's nice to see someone with conviction, so why not?"

Meanwhile, on the same day, Hani appeared as a witness at the Environment and Labor Committee's National Assembly audit to testify about issues of 'idol bullying and workplace harassment.' Hani stated, "Since my debut, I have encountered many high-ranking people, but none of them ever greeted me. I understood that in Korea, it is cultural to behave politely toward elders, but not being greeted is rude as a human being regardless of position," directly criticizing Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE.