New Jeans’ Hanni Reported As An Illegal Immigrant — Immigration Office Promises Action

It has been confirmed that NewJeans‘ Hanni was reported as an illegal immigrant.

In December 2024, it was alleged that NewJeans’ Hanni was reported as an illegal immigrant due to the status of her visa. Hanni holds dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam, meaning she needs a visa to work in Korea.

She was previously granted the E-6 visa through ADOR, but Hanni was supposedly left without a valid visa with the contract between ADOR and NewJeans terminated.

NewJeans Hanni’s Visa Is Nearing Expiration — Future Activities May Be In Danger

According to a report by SpoTV, an anonymous person filed a complaint about Hanni’s alleged illegal residency. On January 10, KST, the Investigation Division of the Seoul Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice shared a statement saying that, “We will take the necessary measures once the employment relationship is resolved.”

The Seoul Immigration Office also stated that it could not release specific details about an individual’s potential violation of immigration laws, and that appropriate action would be taken once an employment relationship was resolved.

We cannot provide specific details regarding whether a particular foreign individual has violated immigration laws. […] For foreign entertainers staying under the E-6 visa, their residency status and duration are determined based on employment contracts with local agencies. Appropriate measures will be taken once the employment relationship is resolved.

— Seoul Immigration Office

If Hanni’s visa with ADOR is officially terminated, she would need a new E-6 visa through a new agency or a D-10 job seeker visa, or be forced to leave the country within 15 days.