On January 25, it was revealed that NewJeans’ Hanni attended the opening night of BABYMONSTER’s 2025 “Hello Monsters” world tour, which was held in Seoul, Korea.
In particular, a fan of BABYMONSTER published a photo with Hanni at the concert, along with the caption, “I came to BABYMONSTER and saw Hanni sitting behind me. She even took a photo with me and was just so kind. I told her that my younger sister was a huge fan of them (NewJeans) since debut, so she told me to tell my sister that she was really grateful. She also said she really enjoyed the concert, and she’s just an awesome person!”
Upon seeing this, many people showed excitement, speculating about a close friendship between Hanni and BABYMONSTER.
However, many were surprised to see that Hanni was still in Korea despite her ongoing Visa issues. In fact, there were rumors that Hanni had gone back to Australia to extend her Visa.
Meanwhile, according to the entertainment and legal circles on January 22, Hanni‘s E-6 (Culture and Entertainment) visa issued through ADOR is set to expire early next month. However, since Hanni and NewJeans have claimed the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR, it is unlikely that ADOR will extend her visa. Previously, ADOR stated, “Hanni’s exclusive contract with NewJeans remains valid, and we are preparing the necessary documents for her visa extension in accordance with procedures.” However, the possibility of Hanni cooperating with ADOR is seen as slim.
Industry insiders predict that NewJeans’ activities as a full group may be uncertain for the foreseeable future due to the imminent expiration of Hanni’s visa. Without an agency, and even if a family corporation rumored to be in the works is established, obtaining a visa for a foreign member involves a lengthy and complex process.
If Hanni does not extend her visa through ADOR, she would need to leave Korea and apply for a new E-6 visa. To do so, she would need to sign an exclusive contract with a domestic entertainment agency. The requirements for the E-6 visa application include: A copy of the exclusive contract with an agency registered under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Promotion Act, a letter of guarantee from the inviting agency’s representative, a recommendation letter issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The visa application process typically takes 2~3 months.
There are also rumors that Hanni may currently be staying in Australia. Some speculate that she could remain in Australia while obtaining a new E-6 visa before reentering Korea.
Meanwhile, Hanni, who has claimed the termination of her exclusive contract with ADOR, has reportedly faced allegations of being an undocumented immigrant. Regarding this matter, the Investigation Division of the Seoul Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice stated on January 10, “It is difficult to answer questions about specific foreign individuals or their potential violations of the Immigration Control Act.”
However, they added, “In the case of foreign entertainers holding an E-6 visa, their residency status and duration of stay are determined based on their employment contract with a domestic agency. Appropriate measures will be taken once the employment relationship is resolved.”