NewJeans’ Hanni partly won a damages suit against two netizens who posted abusive comments, with the court ordering each to pay 100,000 won.
October/2/2026 11:19
NewJeans’ Hanni achieved a partial victory in a damages lawsuit she filed against internet users who posted malicious comments. According to Korean media reports on the 1st, Judge Lee Gwang-hyeon of the 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court ruled in the damages suit Hanni brought against two internet users who posted defamatory comments about her, saying, “The defendants shall each compensate Hanni 100,000 won (about 10,000 yen).” The two defendants left malicious comments on an article dealing with Hanni’s appearance as a reference witness at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s state audit on October 15, 2024, in which she spoke about workplace bullying. At the time, Hanni claimed that she had been excluded in the course of the dispute between Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of her agency, and the parent company HYBE. She also said, “If people respected others as human beings, I don’t think harassment or bullying problems would exist,” and was seen shedding tears. In response to the article reporting this, the two defendants wrote comments such as, “An Australian XX like Sun Wukong (an expression mocking Hanni) who cannot even speak the language is just imagining being victimized alone,” and “XXs trying to team up with someone to take money.” In response, Hanni filed a damages lawsuit in March last year against the people who posted the malicious comments. The court stated, “Even if there was a legal dispute between Min Hee-jin and HYBE, it is difficult to conclude that Hanni personally engaged in conduct that should be socially criticized.” It then judged, “Although the expression of critical opinions about others is not, in principle, illegal, the relevant comments contain insulting abuse, or content that is contemptuous and personally attacking, so mental damages must be compensated.” One of the defendants argued during the trial that “the comments I posted do not go against social norms,” but the court did not accept this. NewJeans, to which Hanni belongs, suspended its independent activities after a dispute over its exclusive contract with ADOR. After that, Haerin and Hyein officially announced their return to ADOR, and Hanni also decided to remain with ADOR. Danielle’s exclusive contract was terminated, and regarding Minji, discussions with ADOR have continued. ・Suspicion of NewJeans Hanni’s visa information leak... police begin full-scale investigation ・NewJeans Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni preparing a new song in an overseas studio? Interest grows in comeback
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