Hanni Sternly Challenges ADOR's New CEO: 'Your Best Isn't Good Enough!'

In a rather dramatic turn of events that could have easily been pulled from the pages of a high-stakes drama, NewJeans’ Hanni found herself face-to-face with CEO Kim Joo Young, the newest captain at the helm after Min Hee Jin stepped aside. Hanni didn’t hold back her frustrations regarding the handling of her case against Belift Lab and ILLIT’s manager, because why whisper when you can raise your voice, right?

On October 15, the National Assembly's Environment & Labor Committee held an audit so riveting it could have drawn more viewers than a season finale. Hanni sat as the shining witness, under the headline “Workplace Bullying and Harassment.” Meanwhile, CEO Kim Joo Young also took the stage to shed light on the bewildering saga involving a Belift Lab employee who, in a move reminiscent of a villain that we all love to hate, allegedly advised ILLIT to “ignore” poor Hanni. Isn’t that charming?

During the intense grilling, Kim relayed that upon hearing the news on June 13, she requested the CCTV footage from the incident faster than a barista would call out your name for that caramel macchiato. But, just as the plot thickened, she was met with a twist: Belift Lab’s official statement shared the news that the footage had vanished into the abyss, having exceeded HYBE’s CCTV retention period. Is this truly a case of “if a tree falls in the forest”? We may never know.

Despite her best efforts—or so she claims—Kim confessed to the assembly that solid evidence was, unfortunately, elusive. “Conflicting claims abound,” she lamented, as if she were reciting a line from a Shakespearean tragedy. “I believe Hanni, and I’m equally frustrated.” Cue the collective sigh from the audience, which resembles your friend who’s just watched a romcom that ends in heartbreak.

Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Hanni challenged the CEO head-on, declaring, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think you did your best.” Yes, she went there. The “OMG” singer laid it all out bare, saying there were certainly more steps Kim could have taken to protect them. “You said you’d continuously protect us, but where's the fight? The actions? The will?” This isn’t just a girl group; it’s a power struggle with a side of sass.

As if throwing down the gauntlet, Hanni insisted that the CEO needs to step up her game: “If I say I want you to do your best in the future, it feels like we’re just going to gloss over it. Resolve this issue quickly before we even think about the future!” It’s a bit like telling someone they can’t just say “I’m sorry” without a heartfelt action behind it. It’s all too clear that the stakes are high, and in this ever-evolving theater of K-Pop, every act counts.

So, as the curtain falls on this particular saga, one can only hope that the players involved will rise to the occasion and prove that they really can turn the drama into a triumph. Because in the end, these stories are what keep us coming back for more—our hearts slightly racing, waiting to see what will happen next. Bravo, Hanni, bravo!