Government Rules K-Pop Idols Are Not Workers After Hani’s Complaint of Workplace Harassment; Debate Over Protection of Workers’ Rights Intensifies

Following Hani of NewJeans’ public testimony about workplace harassment at HYBE, the South Korean government ruled that idols are not considered workers, bringing the issue of labor status within the K-pop industry to the forefront. The conflict between HYBE and the globally popular group NewJeans has been a topic of discussion online for several months. As tensions escalated, NewJeans publicly expressed their grievances against HYBE’s parent company through a live stream. This drew significant attention because it is rare for Korean idols to speak so directly and openly about their companies. During the live stream, specific allegations raised by Hani, the group’s Leader, captured widespread focus. Hani claimed that a manager of another HYBE artist instructed that artist to “ignore” her greetings. She added that she reported this to company executives, but they ignored her concerns. Worried fans then filed a complaint about workplace harassment against HYBE on behalf of Hani. In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor began investigating HYBE’s case of workplace harassment. About a month later, Hani testified about the same incident in the South Korean National Assembly. She stated that “this is not an isolated case” and revealed that other high-ranking officials also repeatedly ignored her greetings. Hani said, “I believe it is simply rude to refuse to acknowledge someone as a human being regardless of their occupational status.” Hani’s testimony is unprecedented; no K-pop idol has ever raised workplace harassment issues so publicly before. This incident triggered extensive online discourse about the prevalence of harassment in the K-pop industry and its impact on artists. Hani also alleged that HYBE employees slandered NewJeans on internal company communication apps, creating a “negative working environment.” She said her concerns were dismissed when reported to ADOR’s management. Kim Ju-young, ADOR’s new CEO, testified before the National Assembly’s General Committee. Regarding Hani’s testimony, Kim Ju-young said they “did everything possible” and pledged to “pay closer attention to NewJeans’ concerns” in the future. The core issue is that artists are not legally recognized as “workers.” According to HYBE, artists are not considered “workers” under South Korean law and therefore cannot benefit from workplace harassment policies intended for regular employees. A statement released by South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor on November 20 supports this position. Meanwhile, Hani’s parents confirmed via an Instagram post on February 12 that she obtained a new visa through proper legal procedures on February 11. Holding dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam, Hani was working under an E-6 (entertainment) visa. Her visa expired earlier this month, sparking various speculation about her residency status. The parents alleged that ADOR used sensitive visa issues affecting foreigners to exert pressure on Hani and her parents, demanding that they sign an extension contract naming ADOR as their agent. They also criticized this as improper behavior, stating that documents requiring personal information and signatures were submitted to relevant authorities without their consent before they were informed.