NewJeans' Hanni Faces Visa Expiration: Future Group Activities Uncertain
NewJeans' Hanni Faces Visa Expiration: Future Group Activities Uncertain
Hanni, a member of the K-pop group NewJeans with Vietnamese-Australian nationality, is facing the expiration of her E-6 visa early next month, raising concerns about the group's future activities.

According to entertainment and legal sources on the 22nd, Hanni's E-6 (Entertainment) visa, issued through ADOR, is set to expire early next month. Due to ongoing disputes regarding the expiration of Hanni's exclusive contract with ADOR, it is unlikely that ADOR will facilitate her visa extension. Previously, ADOR stated that "the exclusive contract with NewJeans is still valid, and we are preparing the necessary documents for Hanni's visa extension." However, the likelihood of Hanni continuing with ADOR appears slim.

With Hanni's visa expiration imminent, the industry anticipates that NewJeans' full group activities may be uncertain for the time being. The group currently lacks an agency, and even if they establish a family corporation, obtaining a visa for a foreign member involves complex procedures and can take a considerable amount of time.

If ADOR does not extend the visa, Hanni would need to leave the country and apply for a new E-6 visa to continue her activities in South Korea. This would require signing an exclusive contract with a domestic entertainment agency. The new agency would need to provide essential documents for the E-6 visa issuance, including a copy of the exclusive contract with an agency registered under the Popular Culture Industry Act, a letter of guarantee from the inviting agency's representative, and an employment recommendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Typically, visa issuance takes 2-3 months.

There are also rumors of Hanni staying in Australia. Some in the entertainment industry speculate that she has already left for Australia, which could allow her to apply for a new E-6 visa from there.
NewJeans' Hanni Faces Visa Expiration: Future Group Activities Uncertain
NewJeans' Hanni Faces Visa Expiration: Future Group Activities Uncertain
Meanwhile, Hanni, who claims her contract with ADOR has ended, has been reported as an illegal resident. Regarding this, the Investigation Division of the Seoul Immigration Office stated on the 10th, "We cannot comment on the specifics of a third-party foreign national's potential violation of immigration laws."

However, they added, "For foreign entertainers staying under an E-6 visa, their residency status and duration are determined based on employment contracts with domestic agencies. We will take appropriate measures once the employment relationship is resolved."

Choi Ji-ye, TenAsia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr