Summary of the HYBE-Hanni “Ignore Her” Controversy: ADOR Releases CCTV Footage, Fans React to Timeline Confusion
On March 10, a user on the famous online forum theqoo summarized the timeline of the controversy, sparking widespread discussion among Korean netizens. The post quickly gained traction, drawing mixed reactions as netizens debated the details and implications of the incident.
The controversy surrounding the “Ignore Her” incident between NewJeans’ Hanni and ILLIT has sparked intense debate, particularly over discrepancies in the timeline. However, the confusion did not stem from HYBE submitting CCTV footage from a different date. Instead, it arose because Hanni mistakenly provided the wrong date and schedule when testifying at the National Assembly hearing. She stated that the incident happened on May 28, 2024, on her way to Busan National University.
On March 7, ADOR released CCTV footage from May 27, refuting NewJeans’ claim that HYBE deleted the video. The footage showed ILLIT members bowing 90 degrees to Hanni inside HYBE’s artist-exclusive area – directly contradicting NewJeans’ claim that an ILLIT manager instructed them to ignore her.
Why the Timeline Matters
The released CCTV footage was from May 27, 2024
NewJeans’ schedule at that time:
- May 27 – Chosun University
- May 28 – Busan National University
NewJeans and ILLIT did cross paths on May 27, not May 28. ILLIT had a schedule in Japan on May 28, while NewJeans did not return to HYBE after their Chosun University appearance but stayed overnight at a resort before heading to Busan the next day. Fans were already aware of this. Even NewJeans’ legal team, acknowledged in court that the incident occurred on May 27.
Misinformation on Who First Named ILLIT
Another widely circulated claim was that Hanni never explicitly mentioned ILLIT and that BELIFT LAB “outed” themselves in a panic. However, this is inaccurate. The first time ILLIT was publicly named was in a September 12 article by Ha Ji-eun, a journalist from Korea Economic Daily, the day after NewJeans’ live broadcast.
BELIFT LAB only released an official statement on October 7. Some speculated that Ha Ji-eun published the article under HYBE’s influence. However, the same journalist had secured an exclusive interview with Min Hee-jin during HYBE’s internal audit, making it unlikely that she was acting on HYBE’s behalf.
CCTV Footage Timeline Breakdown
- May 27 – Incident occurs.
- June 13 – NewJeans raises the issue.
- May 14 to June 13 – Belift Lab reviews CCTV footage, finds the May 27 clip, and saves only the segment where ILLIT greets Hanni.
- June 19 – Investigation results shared with NewJeans.
- ~June 27 – Original CCTV footage is automatically deleted (as CCTV is typically erased after 15-30 days).
- August 14 – Due to continued complaints, both sides review the CCTV together.
- Min Hee-jin’s side argues the issue isn’t the greeting but a later second encounter.
- HYBE states that this part was already automatically deleted after 30 days.
- Min Hee-jin’s side protests.
- March 7 (2025) – During the NewJeans-ADOR injunction lawsuit, HYBE presents the saved CCTV footage.
As the timeline summary spread across, Korean netizens engaged in heated discussions, with reactions varying widely.
Comments on theqoo:
- No, the main point is why the footage of their second encounter was deleted. They saved this part, but why did they delete the part that was actually being questioned? This post doesn’t explain anything at all…
- Ugh, this is seriously exhausting.
- NewJeans did nothing wrong, Min Hee-jin is the real villain.
- Then why was ILLIT dragged into this…? They’re honestly so pitiful.
- “They spent months cursing over this incident… Now that the facts are finally coming to light, they’re trying to shift the narrative again. Lol.
- I do feel bad for them, but using ‘ILLIT is pitiful’ as an excuse to bash NewJeans? Where did their logic go…? Anyone can see who the real victims are here.
The ongoing debate over the “Ignore Her” incident continues to divide opinions, with netizens scrutinizing every detail of the timeline and evidence. As discussions unfold, the controversy highlights the complexities of misinformation, public perception, and corporate dynamics in the K-pop industry.