HYBE has submitted its 'Music Industry Report' as reference material in the ongoing investigation concerning allegations of workplace bullying within the company involving NewJeans. The report, initially drafted for internal use by HYBE executives, has been referenced in a case brought to the Seoul Western District Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
On October 28th, it was confirmed that A, an individual unaffiliated with HYBE, NewJeans, or Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR, had submitted portions of this internal report. The report, recently leaked to online communities, contained remarks about various idol groups, including comments on physical appearances, which have been criticized. It was also noted that NewJeans was mentioned in some of the content.
In an additional petition, A referenced HYBE's '2023 Sustainability Report', which states that “HYBE complies with labor laws and regulations, including the Labor Standards Act, to respect the rights of all members, and operates channels to report human rights violations and ensure swift resolution and prevention of recurrence.” The petition highlighted that the report outlines measures to “investigate incidents of human rights violations and take appropriate action,” including workplace harassment.
A argued that the 'Music Industry Report' released on October 24th contradicts the “respectful behavior code” mentioned by ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo Young. A emphasized that the Ministry of Employment and Labor should investigate the background and specifics of how this internal report was produced.
A further asserted, “The 'NewJeans workplace harassment case' goes beyond a specific group's issue, symbolizing the problems faced by workers not fully protected under labor laws. Therefore, I strongly urge the Ministry of Employment and Labor to thoroughly investigate this matter and take special measures to address the shortcomings in current regulations.”
The Seoul Western District Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor will use the submitted report in its investigation into the “alleged workplace bullying by NewJeans' manager.”
Previously, on September 12th, A had filed a formal complaint through the National Petition System, calling for the “truth behind the alleged bullying within HYBE to be uncovered.”
The complaint emerged after a YouTube live broadcast by NewJeans members on September 11th, where they revealed that a manager reportedly instructed them to “ignore” another celebrity in the hallway of the HYBE building. Hanni, a member of NewJeans, testified as a reference at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee hearing on October 15th, claiming that HYBE had attempted to downplay and cover up the incident.
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