Members of the K-pop group NewJeans recently took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with their parent company, HYBE, and to shed light on the mistreatment they claim to have experienced. The revelations, which were shared during a 30-minute live broadcast on a now-deleted YouTube channel, have sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry and ignited a heated debate among fans.

NewJeans, a group that has enjoyed rapid success since its debut, is now at the center of an intensifying conflict between HYBE and its subsidiary label, ADOR. The tension escalated after the group voiced their full support for former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, who was ousted following a series of internal disputes with HYBE's top executives. The members are demanding that HYBE restore ADOR's original management system, which they believe is crucial for their continued success and well-being.

During the broadcast, Hanni, one of the group's prominent members, shared a particularly troubling experience that highlighted the growing isolation NewJeans feels within the HYBE family. She recounted an incident in which she was deliberately ignored by members of another HYBE group and their manager while waiting in a hallway at the company's headquarters.

"On the 4th floor of the HYBE building, there's a hair & makeup room," Hanni explained. "I was waiting alone in the hallway when other team members and a manager passed by. We greeted each other, but when they came back, the manager told them to ignore me. Right in front of me. I could hear and see everything, but their manager told them, 'Ignore her.' Even now, I don't understand why I had to go through that. I think it's ridiculous."

The leader of NewJeans, Minji, also expressed her disbelief and concern over the incident. "I was lost for words when I heard the story that Hanni went through," she said. "How could a manager of a team pass by and tell a member of that team to ignore Hanni? She went through something unimaginable, and they didn't even apologize or admit their wrongdoing. I'm worried that similar things will happen again and that there's no one to protect her. She'll be ostracized."

While the members' decision to speak out was likely intended to garner support and sympathy, the response from the public was not entirely as expected. After a clip of Hanni's story was shared on X (formerly Twitter), it quickly went viral, amassing over 10 million views. However, instead of receiving widespread support, Hanni faced a significant backlash, with many netizens arguing that she deserved the treatment she described.

The criticism largely stemmed from NewJeans' vocal support of Min Hee Jin, a controversial figure who has been accused of collaborating with HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk in efforts to undermine other K-pop groups, particularly NewJeans' rivals such as aespa and LE SSERAFIM. Min was also accused of instigating a feud with ILLIT, a group she allegedly branded as copycats of NewJeans. These past actions have left a bitter taste in the mouths of various K-pop fandoms, leading to their lack of sympathy for Hanni and her fellow group members.

The situation has sparked a broader conversation about the dynamics within K-pop agencies and the pressures faced by artists. It also raises questions about the power struggles and internal politics that can significantly impact the careers and mental health of idols.

Despite the backlash, the members of NewJeans have remained firm in their stance, emphasizing the importance of speaking out against what they perceive as injustice. The group's fans, known as VIPs, are left in a difficult position, torn between supporting their idols and navigating the complex web of industry politics that has been laid bare by these recent revelations.

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