Concerns Raised Over Missing Surveillance Footage in Hanni’s Workplace Incident

The mothers of NewJeans members are speaking out about their concerns regarding a missing CCTV video that may have captured an instance of workplace harassment involving Hanni. In an interview with Ilgan Sports on October 6, the mothers revealed their frustrations with HYBE and ADOR over the handling of the incident and the deletion of key footage.

In May, Hanni encountered another artist in a hallway at HYBE’s building. According to Hanni, a manager instructed the other artist’s team to “ignore her,” a comment that deeply affected her. Despite raising the issue with Kim Joo Young, the new CEO of ADOR, Hanni’s complaint went unheard, leading to her being mentioned as a reference in a National Assembly audit on workplace harassment.

Questions About CCTV Footage Handling

The mothers’ concerns escalated when they were informed that the CCTV footage showing the alleged incident had been erased. Mother A, one of the NewJeans mothers, expressed confusion, asking, “How can the footage showing Hanni greeting another artist be available, but the footage involving the ‘ignore her’ moment be deleted?”

She explained that ADOR claimed the footage had been erased after 30 days, but they had already raised the issue shortly after the incident. Mother B added, “We had email records proving we raised the issue on time, yet they responded that the footage was erased, and technical recovery wasn’t possible.”

Concerns Over Internal Handling by HYBE

The mothers also raised concerns over how the investigation was conducted. Instead of HYBE or ADOR directly handling the matter, Belift Lab—another HYBE subsidiary—was asked to locate the footage. Mother A questioned this decision, saying, “Why would ADOR ask Belift Lab to find the footage? Shouldn’t HYBE be conducting this investigation neutrally?”

Uncomfortable Encounters During Meetings

During a meeting with Kim Joo Young on September 23, the mothers expressed discomfort over her emotional reaction. Mother A explained that Kim suddenly began crying, which made the NewJeans members feel uneasy. One of the members reportedly asked, “Why are you making us out to be the bad guys?”

The mothers also raised concerns about other issues, including leaked footage of NewJeans’ trainee days. Two days after the meeting, Kim Joo Young acknowledged that fans had filed a criminal complaint against the media outlet involved, and that HYBE was waiting on the outcome.

Future Concerns for NewJeans Members

The mothers are now worried about their children’s future within HYBE. “These kinds of issues happen in blind spots, and we fear they will just be covered up over time,” they shared. Despite multiple discussions with ADOR’s management, the mothers feel that none of the issues have been properly resolved.

HYBE’s Response

A representative from HYBE addressed the situation, saying, “We are thoroughly verifying the facts related to this matter.”

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