As of February 11, reports have emerged that Hanni, a member of former NewJeans, now NJZ, has refused to sign the visa extension documents prepared by ADOR.
According to TV Daily on the 11th, "Hanni, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam, had her E-6 visa for South Korea expire earlier this month. As a result, she is no longer able to engage in entertainment activities within the country. Since the exclusive contract lawsuit filed by ADOR has yet to be resolved, she also faces the risk of being unable to sign with a new agency.Nevertheless, ADOR had reportedly prepared all necessary documents for her visa extension, but Hanni refused to sign them."
When asked for a statement regarding Hanni’s visa status, ADOR responded, "We cannot confirm this information," declining to comment further.
At the end of November last year, the five members of former NewJeans, now NJZ, notified ADOR of their contract termination and have since rebranded under a new name. The group is set to participate in a concert in Hong Kong this March. This will mark NJZ’s first official appearance since their rebranding, and they also plan to release new songs in Hong Kong.
Some speculate that Hanni’s expired E-6 visa, which prevents her from participating in entertainment activities in Korea, may have influenced the group’s decision to relocate their performances abroad.
Meanwhile, ADOR has filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract with the former NewJeans, now NJZ, members. The company has also requested an injunction to prohibit the members from signing new advertisement deals, maintaining its stance that the contract remains legally binding.
However, on February 7, former NewJeans, now NJZ, officially unveiled their new team name and photos via social media. They also announced their participation in the global street fashion and culture festival 'ComplexCon,' which will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from March 21 to 23.
During a live broadcast on NJZ’s official social media account, member Minji confirmed, "On the final day of ComplexCon, March 23, NJZ will release its debut song." Hyein further reassured fans by stating, "We will have an agency soon, so there’s no need to worry too much." Hanni also participated in this live broadcast. In response to the group's rebranding, ADOR reiterated its stance that "the independent activities of the five members are illegal."
The E-6 visa, which Hanni requires, is issued to foreign entertainers based on an employment contract with a domestic agency. According to Hanni, she is neither under contract with ADOR nor signed with a new agency. By refusing to sign the visa extension, she has effectively rendered herself an undocumented resident in Korea.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Justice, foreign nationals with expired visas may remain in the country if they are involved in ongoing lawsuits, but they are not permitted to engage in entertainment activities. Unless Hanni’s visa issue is resolved, NJZ will face challenges in continuing as a full five-member group.
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