”We were told to ignore it” - NewJeans, HYBE bullying scandal exposed...Fans end up asking the Ministry of Labor for investigation

Amid revelations of internal bullying by girl group ‘NewJeans’, fans have asked the Ministry of Employment and Labour to investigate the incident.

　On the 11th September, ‘NewJeans’ proceeded with a 30-minute live broadcast via their new YouTube channel. ‘NewJeans’ caused a stir by revealing their position demanding the reinstatement of former head Min Hee Jin ADOR and revealing the fact that they were bullied within HYBE.

　On the same day, during a live broadcast, HANNI said "There is a space in HYBE where artists get their hair and make-up done. When I was waiting in front of it, I came across other idol groups. We greeted each other properly, but the manager of that group said to ‘ignore them’ in front of me," she revealed.

　In response, MINJI said, "I was shocked when I heard Hani's story. How could the manager of another group tell me to ignore him so that he could hear everything. I told the company, but they took no action. Not only did they not apologise, they didn't even admit it", she added.

　Upon hearing this, fans were angry that ‘NewJeans’ were being bullied within HYBE. In the past, the parents of ‘NewJeans’ revealed through a media interview that HYBE chairman Pan Si-hyuk did not accept the greeting of ‘NewJeans’. This was spread as an allegation of internal bullying.

　On the same day, ‘NewJeans’ ended the broadcast after confessing, through a live performance, the fact that they had been bullied within HYBE, demanding the return of former HYBE chairman Min Hee Jin and their uncertain future. The YouTube account was deleted shortly afterwards.

　In response, on the 12th, ‘NewJeans’ fan A raised a petition to the Ministry of Employment and Labour to investigate the ‘NewJeans’ bullying incident, and requested an investigation. A stated that "Based on the judgement that the allegations need to be denounced, we asked the Ministry of Employment and Labour, which has 'exclusive investigative authority' under the Labour Standards Act, to investigate the matter. ‘We have asked the Ministry of Employment and Labour, which has “exclusive investigative powers” under the Employment Standards Act, to do so’."

　The petition is currently in the process of being accepted and is expected to be distributed by the Labour Inspectorate shortly.Mr A raised the petition with the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the allegations of internal bullying damage at ‘NewJeans’ are only getting bigger and bigger.