A popular NewJeans fan group called Team Bunnies is under investigation for breaking South Korea’s donation laws. The group raised over ₩51.2 million KRW (about $37,000 USD) in just eight hours to fight online hate comments but failed to register the campaign with authorities. Police have sent the case to prosecutors, and the group could face fines or jail time.
Team Bunnies Accused of Illegal Fundraising
On October 21, 2024, Team Bunnies started a fundraising campaign on social media. They asked fans to donate money to take legal action against people posting hate comments about NewJeans. The campaign quickly raised millions, but South Korean law requires any fundraising over ₩10 million KRW (about $7,230 USD) to be registered. Team Bunnies did not do this.
A concerned fan reported the group to the National Sinmungo, a government petition platform. The Seoul Metropolitan Government confirmed the fundraiser was illegal because it was not registered. Police then investigated and sent the case to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office. If found guilty, Team Bunnies’ leader could face up to three years in prison or a fine of ₩30 million KRW.
“I checked with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and it was an illegal fundraiser without prior notification,” said the person who filed the complaint.
Who Are Team Bunnies?
Team Bunnies is a well-known fan group that supports NewJeans (NJZ). They describe themselves as professionals in law, media, finance, and arts. However, they never reveal their identities. The group has been very active in defending NewJeans, even meeting with the members’ parents and lawyers after the group’s legal dispute with their former agency, ADOR.
In September 2024, Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, publicly thanked Team Bunnies for their support.
“There are people called Team Bunnies. I’ve never seen their faces, and I don’t know how old they are, but I’m so grateful. Where did these people come from? They suddenly appeared to me like Hong Gil-dong. I really want to bow down to them.”
Hong Gil-dong is a famous Korean folk hero known for fighting injustice.
Controversies Surrounding Team Bunnies
Team Bunnies has been involved in other controversies. In May 2025, they conducted a survey for a NewJeans Indomie ramen event, asking fans for personal information like names and phone numbers. This raised privacy concerns.
Some fans of NewJeans have distanced themselves from Team Bunnies, saying the group does not represent all fans. Others suspect Team Bunnies might have connections to outside groups or legal networks.
“We all know Team Bunnies is MHJ + NewJeans parents. They have access to NewJeans members, to ADOR confidential documents, to NewJeans lawyers, etc. They are not a fan union,” said a netizen.
Legal Risks for Fan-Led Fundraising
This case could set an example for how fan fundraising is regulated in South Korea. Many fan groups collect money for projects like birthday ads or charity events, but few follow strict donation laws. If Team Bunnies is punished, other fan groups may need to be more careful.
Authorities are now checking if the money raised was used correctly. Some experts think Team Bunnies might have used donations for legal actions beyond just reporting hate comments.
NewJeans’ Ongoing Legal Battle With ADOR
NewJeans is currently in a legal fight with ADOR, their former agency. The group wants to end their contracts, but ADOR is trying to keep control. Team Bunnies has supported NewJeans in this dispute, even submitting a petition signed by 30,000 fans to the court.
“Fans fully support the members’ decision to end their contracts, as we believe they were deliberately mistreated by HYBE (ADOR’s parent company) and its chairman Bang Si-hyuk,” Team Bunnies said in a statement.
The next court hearing is expected soon, and fans are waiting to see if NewJeans will win the case.
What Happens Next?
Prosecutors will now decide if Team Bunnies broke the law. The group may have to provide financial records showing how they spent the donations. If they cannot prove the money was used correctly, they could face serious penalties.
This case shows how fan groups can sometimes cross legal lines, even when trying to support their favorite artists.
Also read: HYBE Accused of Fearing NewJeans Could Rival BTS in Ongoing Legal Battle With ADOR
Credits: Korea Herald.
