K-Pop Star Hanni Urges for Better Treatment of Artists Amid Bullying Claims

K-pop sensation Hanni, a member of the girl group NewJeans, gave an emotional testimony on Oct. 15 during a parliamentary hearing in South Korea, appealing for better treatment of young artists in the multi-billion dollar industry. The 20-year-old Vietnamese-Australian singer opened up about her experience with workplace bullying, shedding light on the pressures K-pop idols face behind the glamorous facade of the industry. “I hope trainees don’t suffer these incidents, and that’s why I decided to appear,” Hanni stated during the televised session, which was part of a parliamentary audit on labour and workplace conditions. Visibly emotional and often holding back tears, Hanni, whose full name is Hanni Pham, described the toll the toxic environment has taken on her and her fellow members....