“What’s the point of making an underage baby do that?”

The ongoing feud between HYBE Labels and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin has picked up heat once again, after it was revealed that Min consulted a shaman to “help” with the NewJeans member line-up among other questionable behavior during the girls’ pre-debut days. In response, Hee Jin has threatened legal action against the “defaming” reveal, and also claimed that HYBE used the pre-debut NewJeans members in a BTS music video without her permission.

Needless to say, the situation is still extremely messy, with new details, rumors, and speculation seemingly revealed every day. And amid the ongoing spat between the staff members and higher-ups involved in the matter, the young idols themselves are arguably the ones suffering the most.

Prior to joining ADOR, the members of NewJeans were under another HYBE subsidiary, SOURCE MUSIC (previously home to GFRIEND and now home to LE SSERAFIM). While the method that Min Hee Jin used to essentially “steal” the then-trainees from SOURCE MUSIC is getting criticized after its reveal, a short clip of Hanni doing a sexy dance while underaged at SOURCE MUSIC has been causing outrage and has some wondering if they really benefitted from going to ADOR.

In the clip, pre-debut Hanni is dressed in heels and leggings while performing a highly suggestive dance. Just the release of the video has created anger among many. Considering Hanni was only 17 when she debuted with NewJeans, she was definitely a teen when this was filmed.

Some people have argued that since this was supposed to be a practice video and not shared with the public, that Hanni being made to dance like this was acceptable. But considering the backlash that SOURCE MUSIC has received for some of the suggestive dances that LE SSERAFIM have performed post-debut with underage member Eunchae, others argue that this might have been what NewJeans’ future could have looked like.

Here’s how Korean netizens are reacting to the released clip.

• “Agree, why would you make kids wear heels?”
• “Who is this?”
  > “Hanni”
• “I hate the fact that they made her wear leggings too…”
• “What’s the point of making an underage baby do that.”
• “I’m thankful she debuted with ADOR.”
• “Is this right for a minor to do…”
• “Oh😢 The heels are too high and the choreography is…”
• “Crazy that’s Hanni..? Ah I hate this so much, this is our kid ha.”
• “I know this is an exercise, but if it was a concept like this… I think it’s a relief she went to ADOR.”

Do you wonder what might have been different if the NewJeans members debuted under a different label?