On February 12, the parents of NJZ members (formerly known as NewJeans) released a statement via their Instagram account, @njz_pr, to clarify Hanni’s visa status following growing speculation in Korean media and online discussions.
According to the statement, Hanni was issued a new visa on February 11 “through due process.” Reports indicate that her previous visa had expired the month prior, and with the group’s recent contract termination with ADOR, questions arose regarding her legal status in South Korea. As a foreign national holding both Vietnamese and Australian citizenship, Hanni requires a valid visa to work in the country.
The statement further alleges that ADOR attempted to use the visa process as leverage to pressure both Hanni and her parents. Additionally, it claims that personal details about Hanni—information that could only have been accessed by ADOR—were disclosed to the media, raising concerns about privacy violations.
Read the full statement below:
Good afternoon,
Yesterday and today, speculative articles about Hanni’s eligibility to stay in the country are piling up, and false facts are spreading. I want to correct them.
Hanni was issued a new visa yesterday (2/11) through due process.
ADOR pressured both Hanni and her parents by using the ‘visa’ issue—something that is naturally sensitive for any foreign resident in Korea. They demanded that Hanni sign an extension agreement listing ADOR as her agency and sent an email stating that failure to comply could result in illegal residency. Furthermore, they submitted documents containing personal information and required signatures to relevant institutions without consent, informing Hanni only after the fact—an action that is simply beyond comprehension.
Some media outlets are using the term ‘illegal alien’ based on unverified facts, spreading false rumors and provoking unnecessary complaints. Additionally, they are disseminating false information, citing sources as ‘anonymous Gayo official’ and ‘revenge Gayo official,’ even though visa progress can only be verified through personal information. Unlike today’s articles stating that ‘ADOR’s claims cannot be verified,’ the first reported article confirmed that ‘ADOR tried to prepare and apply for all the documents for a visa extension, but Hanni refused to sign.’
With nearly 70 articles published in just the past two days, including speculative reports on visa types and expiration dates—personal details that Hanni is not obligated to disclose—this has resulted in a serious violation of her rights. It is deeply regrettable that only ADOR, which has access to members’ personal information, could have leaked such details to the media.
The unauthorized use or leakage of personal information is unacceptable, and media outlets reporting such details without verification are also at fault. The increasing trend of exploiting members’ private information, including tracking their country of entry records, is alarming, and legal measures are being considered to protect them.
Thank you for reading this long message. I apologize for the concern and inconvenience this may have caused fans. Please take care of your health.
Thank you.
NJZ’s parents created the @njz_pr Instagram account to clarify the group’s official position and address what they see as misinformation.
Recently, NJZ announced on @njz_official their departure from the name NewJeans. During an Instagram Live, they confirmed a performance at ComplexCon on March 23, where they will debut a new song.
