Back in November 2024, NewJeans held a press conference to announce their break from ADOR. During it, Hanni didn’t mince words. She accused ADOR and HYBE of no longer caring about NewJeans’ well-being and only being interested in making profits. She labeled HYBE “soulless” when it came to music and slammed them for treating the members like tools.
These comments resurfaced now that Bang Si Hyuk, HYBE’s big boss, is being investigated for allegedly misleading investors during HYBE’s 2020 IPO and getting 400 million KRW through unfair practices. And guess what? Fans are now looking back at Hanni’s bold 2024 comments, which seem to be aligning with the company’s current scandal.
Now that Bang Si Hyuk is facing major fraud charges under the Capital Markets Act, which could carry a sentence of five years or even life in prison, Hanni’s words are swirling around the Internet again. It looks like the tables have turned, and many are thinking that Hanni has been right all along. Meanwhile, NewJeans continues their legal showdown with HYBE’s ADOR. On May 30, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that NewJeans would have to pay a billion KRW fine if they ever pursued any solo or group activities without HYBE’s approval. However, their legal team called the ruling “temporary” until a final ruling is made in the courtroom. If the group wins their case, the restriction will be lifted.