ADOR faces criminal charges for leaking NewJeans Hanni’s visa information
ADOR and some of its executives were criminally charged on July 28 for leaking NewJeans member Hanni’s visa information amid a contract dispute.
Fans and privacy advocates are watching closely after the agency’s alleged disclosure of Hanni’s personal visa details.
Hanni, who is Vietnamese-Australian, appeared as a witness at a National Assembly hearing on October 15, 2024.
Cultural critic Kim Seongsu filed a criminal complaint against ADOR and its staff for violating the Personal Information Protection Act. He said the agency leaked Hanni’s visa information to the media during contract disagreements.
Kim Seongsu stressed that ADOR allegedly used this visa information to label Hanni as an “illegal resident.”
“illegal resident”
Reports say Hanni’s original visa expired during the contract conflict with ADOR. After leaving the agency, she reportedly had trouble meeting visa issuance requirements, which led to media speculation about her potential undocumented status.
The charges underline the legal consequences of handling personal information during disputes between artists and agencies.