'NewJeans Agency' ADOR Accused of Revealing Hani's Visa Information [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

ADOR, the agency of girl group NewJeans (NewJeans), has been criminally reported for allegedly leaking visa-related personal information of member Hani, who holds Australian nationality.

On the 28th, a cultural critic held a press conference in front of Seoul Yongsan Police Station, stating, "We have filed a criminal complaint against ADOR and its employees for violating the Personal Information Protection Act."

On that day, the cultural critic claimed that an employee responsible for Hani's visa status and related matters had leaked her visa information to certain entertainment media reporters without consent.

According to the complaint, ADOR provided external parties with details regarding Hani's management and visa status, including the type of Artist-E6 visa, its expiration date, the progress of extension application documents, and whether signatures were obtained.

The cultural critic stated, "Information such as the expiration date of visas for foreigners residing in Korea and the progress of extension applications is confidential and can only be known by the Immigration Service, the individual concerned, or the agency handling their affairs." They added, "It is difficult to understand how internal information that cannot be accessed through normal reporting was disclosed via an anonymous source identified as 'multiple music industry insiders.'"

Furthermore, they alleged that ADOR attempted to spread the perception that Hani was an illegal resident by using her visa information to gain leverage in their exclusive contract dispute.

The complaint also included a statement released on February 12 last year by NewJeans members' parents as evidence. At the time, the parents expressed concern over privacy and rights violations after approximately 70 speculative articles covering visa types and expiration dates were published over two days.

Hani, who is of Vietnamese descent and holds Australian nationality, requires an Artist-E6 visa to reside and work in South Korea.

However, following NewJeans' announcement of contract termination, rumors of illegal residency emerged last February when a media outlet reported that Hani might become an illegal resident if she left ADOR because she would no longer meet the visa issuance requirements ahead of her existing visa's expiration.

The controversy was subsequently resolved after it became known that Hani had obtained a new visa.

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*This content was translated by AI.