Seoul Immigration's Investigation Division has spoken out regarding the report of illegal stay concerning New Jeans' Hani.
On the 10th, the Seoul Immigration Foreigners Office (hereafter referred to as Seoul Immigration) responded to the report of Hani's illegal stay by stating, "We plan to take appropriate action as soon as the employment relationship between the parties is resolved."
Previously, an anonymous citizen reported Hani, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam, as an illegal resident through the National Petition System. Hani had been issued a visa under a contract with Ador, but announced the termination of her exclusive contract with Ador at a press conference last November, effective from the 29th.
Subsequently, claims were made that Hani should have returned her foreign registration card and left Korea by the 13th, which is 15 days after she claimed to have terminated her exclusive contract. In fact, to engage in activities in Korea as a foreign national, one must have an exclusive contract with an agency registered in the field of popular culture and arts planning, which requires the agency's guarantee.
In this regard, Seoul Immigration stated, "It is difficult to provide details regarding the violation of the Immigration Control Act by a specific foreign individual through a complaint," and explained, "For foreign entertainers staying under the 'E-6 visa' status, the duration of stay and residency qualifications in Korea are determined based on employment contracts with domestic agencies."
The E-6 visa is generally granted for one year and is renewed annually by the agency, and it is known that Hani's visa, issued through Ador, is set to expire early this year.
The reason many are focused on Hani's visa expiration is that, as the members claim, if the contract with Ador is terminated, the E-6 visa, which prioritizes employment contracts, cannot be issued.
Without the assistance of Ador, Hani would need to find a new agency to obtain a visa, but since Ador has filed a lawsuit for "confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contract" with the Seoul Central District Court, this situation is not easy either. As Hani claims to have "terminated her contract with Ador" and is pursuing her own path, there are also many who view her through the lens of "illegal stay."
In response, Ador stated, "The exclusive contract with New Jeans is still valid, so we are preparing the necessary documents for visa extension according to the procedures."
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
