This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
Netizens reacted to Bang Si Hyuk‘s mistreatment of NewJeans.
On May 13, Ilgan Sports released an email sent from ADOR on behalf of NewJeans’ members’ parents to HYBE. The email lambasted HYBE for exploiting and mistreating NewJeans.
NewJeans’ Parents Claim Bang Si Hyuk Would Purposely Ignore The NewJeans Members
In the email, NewJeans’ parents revealed that Bang Si Hyuk would not acknowledge NewJeans’ when they greeted him.
Whenever the NewJeans members encountered Bang Si Hyuk in the company building, we wondered why Bang Si Hyuk would pretend not to recognize the members and turn a blind eye to their greetings. At first, we didn’t believe our children, thinking, ‘Oh, he probably just didn’t recognize you then,’ so we attempted to verify this.
However, since this issue has happened several times, with different dates and locations, even when it was just Bang Si Hyuk and the members, we believe there is no other possibility except recognizing that they are, in fact, NewJeans.
— NewJeans’ parents
Although ignoring someone’s greeting may not be that big of a deal to Western sensibilities, in Korea, where greetings are made by bowing, this is the ultimate form of disrespect. In this case, it is even worse, considering NewJeans members are obligated to bow to Bang Si Hyuk.
NewJeans’ parents revealed the shame and embarrassment they felt when learning that Bang Si Hyuk would ignore their children.
Even if you don’t recognize the NewJeans members, it’s just basic manners to accept someone’s greetings when they say hello first. Is that so difficult?
As parents, we were embarrassed and had nothing to say about this childish situation after hearing that it wasn’t just once or twice where they were deliberately avoided, but examples such as they were embarrassed that they were being ignored so they just stood in the elevator with blank expressions or noticing that he was pretending to not see them. They are just middle and high schoolers.
— NewJeans’ parents
Korean netizens reacted with shock and dismay. Many criticized Bang Si Hyuk for being childish and bullying teenagers.
- “Why is an adult acting like that towards children? I’m so embarrassed for him.”
- “Wow, lol.”
- “Why is he like that? What a loser.”
- “This is even worse than I thought. I never want to see him again.”
- “Wow, isn’t he old enough to be their parents? He’s the epitome of a loser beta male. It’s not like they are some random children, they are his artist.”
- “He’s the biggest loser.”
- “Let NewJeans go…”
What are your thoughts?
