The decision has drawn further criticisms on an industry that is known for punishing schedules and immense competition.

Hanni of girl group NewJeans is not an employee defined by the law, making her ineligible to the protection measures against workplace harassment dictated in the Labor Standards Act, the government decided Wednesday.

20 Nov - A month after she testified on workplace harassment in front of the Labour Committee of South Korea's National Assembly, NewJeans' Hanni was told that she is ineligible for workplace harassment protections provided by the Labour Standards Act.

The Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor has dismissed on a technicality the workplace harassment claims involving NewJeans member Hanni. According to an article by Korea Herald on Wednesday, the ministry ruled that the protections under the Labor Standards Act does not apply to Hanni.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has closed the workplace bullying case of NewJeans member Hanni stating that she does not qualify as an ADOR employee under the law. The K-pop idol had alleged that the manager of ILLIT had instructed its members to "ignore" her within the HYBE's headquarters in Seoul.