Team Bunnies member accused of violating South Korea’s fundraising law.
A minor involved in organizing a controversial fundraising campaign under the fan group Team Bunnies, claiming to support K-pop group NewJeans, has been referred to juvenile court for allegedly violating South Korea’s Act on the Collection and Use of Donations (기부금품법).
According to the reports on October 28 KST, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office found sufficient evidence that A, a key figure in Team Bunnies, violated the donation law by collecting large sums without proper registration.
Due to A’s underage status and the relatively nonviolent nature of the offense, prosecutors chose to refer the case to the Seoul Family Court Juvenile Division rather than pursue criminal prosecution. The court will now consider whether to impose protective measures such as warnings, community service, or probation—or to dismiss the case entirely depending on the severity and rehabilitative potential.
The issue stems from a campaign launched by Team Bunnies on October 21, 2023, which raised over 50 million KRW (approx. $35,000 USD) within eight hours. The group stated the funds would be used to take legal action against malicious posts targeting NewJeans, amid ongoing tension between ADOR’s then-CEO Min Hee Jin and parent company HYBE.
However, the fundraising campaign was launched without prior registration, a violation under South Korean law. According to the Fundraising Act, any campaign collecting over 10 million KRW must be registered with the relevant authorities. Failing to do so could result in up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.
As of now, the donated funds remain frozen. Prosecutors have confirmed that all disbursement is on hold pending investigation, and unused funds may be returned to donors depending on the outcome.
Team Bunnies describes itself as a group of “professionals from various fields supporting NewJeans.” The collective rose to prominence during the HYBE–Min Hee Jin conflict, even making headlines for releasing internal planning documents comparing NewJeans with rival groups like ILLIT (from HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab).
However, NewJeans’ official fandom “Bunnies” has publicly distanced itself, stating, “Team Bunnies does not represent the fandom as a whole.”
The case has drawn attention to the legal gray areas of fan-led activism and crowdfunding in K-pop, raising questions about accountability and transparency. With a minor at the center, the court’s decision may set a precedent for future fan-organized initiatives.
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