Fans are in shock as NewJeans, now rebranded as NJZ, faces a huge issue with one of its members, Hanni.

The Australian-Vietnamese idol has refused to sign the necessary visa extension documents with ADOR, causing major complications for the girl group’s future activities.

At the end of November last year, NewJeans made headlines when they announced they were ending their exclusive contract with ADOR and changed their name to NJZ.

This bold move shocked fans, especially since their first official event as NJZ will be in Hong Kong this March, where they’ll also drop new music. However, it’s clear now that things are far from simple.

Hanni, who holds dual citizenship in both Australia and Vietnam, is facing serious legal hurdles. Her "E-6 Visa"—required for foreign nationals working in the South Korean entertainment industry—expired earlier this month, which means she can no longer participate in entertainment activities in South Korea.

What’s worse, due to her ongoing lawsuit with ADOR over the termination of her contract, she can't just sign with a new agency to extend her visa.

According to sources, ADOR was ready with all the required paperwork to extend Hanni’s visa but ran into a wall when she refused to sign it. As a result, Hanni is now in a legal gray area and may even be considered an illegal resident in South Korea.

On February 11th, ADOR responded, saying, "We cannot confirm anything regarding Hanni’s visa situation" but didn’t provide further details.

Since the "E-6 Visa" is only granted to those signed to a domestic agency, Hanni’s refusal to cooperate with ADOR leaves her in a tough spot. Right now, she hasn’t signed with a new agency, so her future in South Korea remains uncertain.

There are speculations that Hanni could try to use the ongoing lawsuit to stay in the country, as foreign nationals with expired visas are sometimes allowed to remain if they’re involved in legal battles. However, even if she does manage to stay, she won’t be able to participate in any entertainment activities.

As a result of Hanni’s visa situation, full-group activities with all five members of NJZ are looking impossible for now. Fans and industry insiders are eagerly watching to see how NJZ, led by Min Hee Jin, will handle these major challenges in the coming months.

Source: [1]

A memorial for 8-year-old Kim Haneul, who tragically lost her life in the Daejeon elementary school murder case, has become a place for people to pay their respects.

What caught the eye of many, however, was a thoughtful flower arrangement sent by K-pop group IVE.

On February 11th, reports revealed that Kim Haneul's memorial has attracted a steady flow of visitors, including family, friends, and even those who didn't know her personally but wanted to mourn her loss.

Among the visitors was Haneul’s father, Mr. A, who shared some touching details about his daughter’s love for IVE, particularly for member Jang Wonyoung.

According to Mr. A, Haneul’s biggest dream was to meet Jang Wonyoung. “Whenever Jang Wonyoung appeared on TV, Haneul would stay up late just to watch her live,” he shared.

The father went on to say, “If anyone from IVE sees this, I would be so thankful if Jang Wonyoung could say a warm goodbye to our Haneul.”

A heartfelt photo card from IVE was placed in front of Haneul’s portrait at the memorial, showing the young girl's admiration for the K-pop group.

Later, fans and netizens shared messages like “Haneul, go and become a beautiful star,” hoping that IVE’s gesture would send warmth to Haneul.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Kim Haneul and her teacher, Mr. B, were found at an elementary school in Daejeon on the afternoon of February 10th.

Haneul was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away. Police investigations revealed that Mr. B had made a shocking statement: "I was going to kill anyone and die together." It was later confirmed that Mr. B had no connection to Haneul.

The police have stated they will continue to investigate Mr. B’s motives and the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident once his health improves.

Source: [1]