ADOR has released new CCTV footage showing NJZ member Hanni interacting with ILLIT members, accompanied by Kakaotalk chat logs exchanged between Hanni and Min Hee Jin.
Recently, the Seoul Central District Court's 50th Civil Division conducted a hearing concerning ADOR's injunction request against NJZ members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) to safeguard the company's management rights and prevent unauthorized advertising agreements.
In a surprising turn of events, ADOR clarified that the "ignore" directive was not attributed to Hanni but rather stemmed from a statement made by former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. ADOR revealed the conversation between Hanni and the former representative, where Hanni emphasized that the ILLIT members had greeted and then passed by her.
Moreover, Hanni recounted, "I overheard the manager instructing the four to simply ignore me and walk past when they exited the styling room. While I cannot recall the exact phrasing, it was along those lines." Former representative Min further questioned, "Ignore? Did everyone choose to ignore you?"
Despite this, Hanni took to social media to voice her concerns about ADOR and HYBE distorting her statements to suit their narrative. She emphasized on her Instagram story, "How can my words be manipulated to fulfill your agenda when I was the one who sent that message? Stop tormenting me, ADOR, and HYBE, while portraying yourselves as advocates for our well-being."
The recent release of the CCTV footage has reignited discussions surrounding the 'Ignore Hanni' incident in various online platforms, particularly in Korean forums. Korean netizens are divided on the matter, with some blaming Min Hee Jin for exacerbating the situation, while others criticize HYBE and ADOR for unveiling the surveillance footage only now, instead of at the onset of the dispute.
The online community expressed varied opinions:
- "Is this issue significant enough to warrant a National Assembly inquiry?" - "Wasn't it HYBE that confirmed the involvement of ILLIT?" - "While the initial greeting was captured, why is the subsequent interaction missing?" - "Even Hanni reiterated that she greeted ILLIT, amusing." - "If she had simply clarified any misunderstanding, this could have been avoided; Min Hee Jin unnecessarily amplified the situation." - "Releasing the chat logs as well? Unbelievable." - "The selective release of the CCTV footage raises eyebrows; why is the focus solely on Hanni's uncertainty? The discrepancy between 'pretend you didn't see her' and 'ignore her' is minimal." - "The agency's handling of the situation raises more concerns than the initial incident. ADOR's claim of safeguarding NewJeans while behaving in this manner is unsettling." - "So, she never explicitly said 'ignore her'? Did Min Hee Jin misconstrue her words?" - "The crux of the issue lies in the uncertainty over the manager's identity. Throughout, Hanni has affirmed greeting the group. Accusations of falsehood during the National Assembly hearing seem baseless." - "Hanni consistently maintains that she greeted the group appropriately, without specifying the members." - "Regardless of other aspects, elevating this to the National Assembly seems excessive. Despite my reservations towards HYBE, this action is indefensible." - "Isn't Min Hee Jin at the root of this for all parties involved? The manager, ILLIT... Yet, the biggest casualty appears to be the manager. Though ILLIT did greet Hanni, some chose to dispute it. Quite nonsensical. Will I now be labeled a HYBE supporter and linked to Bang Si Hyuk? Hilarious."
Additionally, ILLIT's innovative light stick design has garnered acclaim.