How It All Started: One Incident, Many Sides
It all began with Hanni sharing her version of a supposed altercation involving members of ILLIT. According to Hanni, a representative from Belift Lab had allegedly instructed other artists to ignore her at an event, which led to several of them walking past her without so much as a hello. This claim quickly gained traction on the Korean online forum Pann, swelling into a viral debate. But social media, as ever, divided into camps—and soon the situation spiraled far beyond a simple misunderstanding.
The Court Ruling That Changed Everything
Things escalated further after the court reviewed security camera footage related to the incident. Contrary to Hanni’s statements, the judges stated it was “difficult to accept that Hanni was the victim of hostile behavior.” The verdict placed responsibility for the situation squarely on Min Hee-jin—directly contradicting Hanni’s earlier claims. Unsurprisingly, this legal twist reignited online criticism and thrust Hanni’s statements back under the public microscope.
Hanni’s Response and the Social Media Firestorm
Looking to clarify her position after testifying at the National Assembly, Hanni took to Instagram to share her thoughts. She argued her words had been twisted out of context:
I remember everything clearly. I was going to say something at court, but I held back. How can someone take a snippet of conversation and twist its meaning to defend their own view when it’s me who wrote the message? Meanwhile, you portray yourself as a company wanting the best for us. ADOR and HYBE, stop harassing me.
Her reaction, far from quelling the uproar, only poured more fuel on the fire. The message was widely circulated and drew even sharper scrutiny from fans and detractors alike.
Online Backlash: The Internet Demands Accountability
The controversy quickly blew up across Korean online communities, racking up more than 85,000 views. Netizens were quick to assign blame, demanding public apologies from Hanni:
- Frankly, she’s the one at fault here.
- This isn’t just about public apologies—she could actually be prosecuted for perjury at the National Assembly. She should count herself lucky no one has filed a complaint yet!
Other comments were even harsher:
- She’s heartless.
- Seriously??? I bet any Korean judge would feel like the one being harassed at this point.
- Isn’t she in her twenties? Why is she acting like a high schooler?
These reactions make one thing clear: this situation is deeply polarizing fans and the wider public. The incident has pushed NewJeans’ Hanni squarely into the hot seat, leaving open the question—will there be a public apology, or will the debate rage on?
