(G)I-DLE Soyeon’s Reaction To NewJeans’ Award Show Speech Leaves Netizens Emotional
On November 16, KST, the 2024 Korea Grand Music Awards held the first day of its award ceremony, celebrating the best in Korean music across genres. Organized by Ilgan Sports, the event brought together a star-studded lineup of K-Pop stars to perform on stage.
On this day, NewJeans bagged the Best Artist Award and delivered a heartfelt speech on stage. The members didn’t shy away from addressing the ongoing conflict between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin in their acceptance speech and even touched upon the uncertainty of their future as NewJeans.
We always say thank you to Bunnies, so it might sound like they are empty words, but we want you guys to know that they’re not. We don’t know when we will be able to stay as NewJeans, but I think the relationship between the five of us and the Bunnies cannot be destroyed. So, let’s stick together until the end.
— Hanni
But while concluding their message, NewJeans reiterated their new motto, “NewJeans never die,” implying their willingness to fight till the end.
"this has been newjeans" pic.twitter.com/Neb0MAOkrp
— shie (@shiecollects) November 16, 2024
During this speech, (G)I-DLE leader Soyeon was seen listening to the NewJeans members ardently from the artist section beside the stage. Netizens pointed out that hearing the phrase “NewJeans never die” made the senior idol tear up immediately.
SOYEON crying during NewJeans' speech at the 2024 KGMA
She started crying when NewJeans' Danielle shouted "NewJeans never dies"#GIDLE #여자아이들 pic.twitter.com/ptVp7s89LE
— (G)I-DLE Charts (@idlecharts) November 16, 2024
This reaction has gone viral on social media and Korean online communities. Netizens assumed that the phrase probably reminded the (G)I-DLE leader of their own struggle period, where the group was facing similar struggles, which eventually led to the creation of their first studio album, I Never Die. Many also felt that Soyeon could probably relate to the uncertainty of NewJeans’ future with that of her own group.
Jeon Soyeon cried during the NewJeans acceptance speech, as they said they'd "never die." Similar to Soyeon's own response during a performance on 'My Teenage Girl' after GIDLE's hiatus and disbandment scare in 2021. pic.twitter.com/rAnAzRcQOd
— Sindiel🇵🇸 (@chiettaylor) November 17, 2024
GIDLE smiling when NJ said "NEWJEANS never die"
Soyeon's reaction upon hearing the phrase 😆
Did the members look at her too?(Cause that was their 2022 catchphrase after everything they went through in 2021 😔) pic.twitter.com/dIYOe14MVH
— CJ✨ (@myeonkkim) November 17, 2024
Soyeon was one of the few idols out there to support New Jeans, she chose NJ as the group she wants to work when they’re already in hybe mess … and now not hiding her emotions for NJ she truly understands what they’re going through pic.twitter.com/6dEMfTv2e7
— pretty.j ² 🐈⬛ (@mari_gznie) November 16, 2024
Meanwhile, NewJeans has legally notified ADOR of potential contract termination unless the label meets the specific conditions put forth by the members. You can read more about it here.