ADOR Charged with Unauthorized Disclosure of NewJeans’ Hani’s Visa Information

Cultural critic Kim Sung-soo filed a complaint with the police against ADOR, NewJeans’ management agency, for violating privacy laws. The accusation is that ADOR illegally leaked Hani’s visa-related personal information to the media. On the 28th, Kim Sung-soo held a press conference in front of the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul and announced that he had filed charges against ADOR as an entity and its employees.

Hani, who holds dual citizenship from Australia and Vietnam, is residing in South Korea on an E-6 visa for artistic performances. ADOR is accused of illegally providing some of the personal information it obtained through its management duties—such as the visa type, expiration date, progress of extension applications, and signature status—to reporters from entertainment media.

Kim Sung-soo stated, “The expiration dates of visas for foreigners residing in South Korea and the progress of extension applications are information known only to immigration authorities, the individuals themselves, and their agencies handling the matters.” He added, “How could such highly confidential internal information, inaccessible even through standard reporting, leak out from behind anonymous screens?”

The visa information leak is linked to media reports from last February. At that time, some outlets reported that Hani might become an illegal resident if she left ADOR, as she would fail to meet the requirements for an E-6 visa. Over two days, more than 70 speculative articles about her visa appeared, and Hani’s parents complained about the violation of their personal information and rights.

The members’ parents issued an official statement at the time, saying, “They pressured us by sending emails claiming that we would become illegal residents if we did not sign extension consent forms listing ADOR as our agency, exploiting the sensitive visa issues faced by foreigners living in South Korea.”

Kim Sung-soo claimed that ADOR attempted to use Hani’s visa information to label her as an illegal resident, aiming to gain an advantage in a contract dispute. The complaint document included as evidence the official statement issued by NewJeans’ members’ parents on February 12 of last year. Afterward, Hani obtained a new visa, resolving the residency controversy for now.

Meanwhile, NewJeans recently released a video on its official YouTube channel on the 22nd, featuring the four members—Minzy, Hyein, Hani, and Haerin—except for Danielle. This marks the group’s first official activity in two years, sparking interest in their potential return to group activities.