Hyein, 16, said that the livestream was made because the ongoing situation “directly affected the lives” of NewJeans and that they felt that it would be healthier to speak up for themselves, rather than to do nothing.
“It’s been hard to see many people who have worked with us continue to suffer from unfair demands and pressure even after [Min Hee-jin] was dismissed. It was frustrating to just stand by and watch these situations unfold, and we were very worried about our future as a group of five,” she said.
Hyein also clarified that the livestream was made out of the group’s own volition and that Min did not instruct them to create it.
“It didn’t feel right for us to stay quiet when everyone, including our Bunnies (NewJeans’ fandom), have been stepping up to support us. Moreover, this is not just a matter of leaving it to the adults because it directly affects the lives of us five.”
She added that the livestream was directed towards HYBE and that the group already had meetings with them to voice out their opinions and concerns.
“But after seeing what happened afterward, it feels like our concerns weren’t clearly conveyed. It seemed like communication was blocked, so we felt that preparing this livestream was the only way to properly share our thoughts and feelings.”
