The Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor concluded its investigation into an alleged harassment case involving NewJeans member HANNI, deciding not to pursue further action after determining that she cannot be classified as an employee under South Korea’s Labor Standards Act.
Investigation Closed Due to Employment Status
The investigation stemmed from a claim by HANNI, a Vietnamese-Australian singer, who alleged that a manager of another K-pop group under the HYBE label ILLIT told their artists to ignore her at the HYBE HQ in Seoul. HANNI shared the incident during a YouTube livestream in September, sparking a formal complaint from fans to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. She later gave emotional testimony in front of South Korea’s National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, explaining how the incident made her feel ignored and disrespected.
However, after reviewing the situation, the Labor office stated that HANNI’s working relationship with her company, ADOR, did not fit the criteria of an employee-employer relationship under the law. The statement explained that HANNI’s management contract with ADOR involves both parties fulfilling their obligations as equal contracting entities, without any form of subordinate supervision from the company, which is a key characteristic of employee status under South Korean labor law.
Key Factors in the Ruling
Contractual Agreement: HANNI’s relationship with ADOR is defined by a contract in which both parties meet their respective responsibilities. The Labor office highlighted that the company did not exercise supervision or direct control over HANNI’s work, which is a core element for considering someone a worker under the Labor Standards Act.
Independent Financial Responsibilities: Another critical factor was that HANNI shares the costs of entertainment activities with the company. Furthermore, she pays business income tax instead of the employment income tax that applies to regular employees, indicating her independent status.
Risk-Bearing: The ruling also pointed out that HANNI bears the risks of generating profits and potential losses from her entertainment activities, which is more consistent with the role of an independent contractor rather than an employee.
HANNI’s Testimony
In her testimony, HANNI explained how the manager's comment, telling others to ignore her, left her feeling dehumanized and led to a realization that the company’s management team did not show her or her group the respect they deserved. She added that she and her bandmates often felt undermined and that the issues were part of a broader pattern of neglect by the company.
Despite the investigation’s closure, the ruling underscores the complexity of the artist-management relationship in K-pop, particularly for idols under management contracts, which differ significantly from traditional employment agreements.
Conclusion
While the investigation has been closed due to the legal definition of employment, the incident has sparked broader conversations about the treatment of K-pop idols and the boundaries between entertainment industry contracts and traditional labor laws. HANNI’s emotional testimony has resonated with many, emphasizing that, regardless of contractual status, artists deserve respect as human beings within the workplace.
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