Seoul: The Ministry of Employment and Labor has dismissed claims of workplace harassment against Hanni Pham, a member of the popular K-pop girl group NewJeans. The ministry stated on Wednesday that Hanni cannot be classified as a worker under current labor laws. According to Yonhap News Agency, the allegations were brought forward by NewJeans fans in a petition filed with the labor ministry in mid-September. The petition accused Hybe, the parent company of NewJeans' label ADOR, of allowing workplace bullying to occur. One particular incident highlighted involved Hanni being ignored by members of another girl group, ILLIT, from Hybe's sub-label Belift Lab, reportedly at the instruction of their manager. Hanni herself expressed confusion and frustration during a National Assembly meeting on October 15, stating, "I was certain that the company hated us." However, the labor ministry clarified that the Seoul western labor office decided to reject the petition. The decision was based on the determination that Han ni does not meet the criteria of a worker as defined by the Labor Standards Act, which requires an employer-employee relationship where labor is provided in exchange for wages. The labor office's decision took into account the specific management contract signed by Hanni, which makes it difficult to classify her as a worker under the Labor Standards Act. Article 76, Paragraph 2 of the law defines workplace harassment as causing physical or mental suffering or deteriorating the work environment by exploiting superiority in rank or relationship within the workplace. This does not apply to Hanni's situation, as entertainers in South Korea are classified as "exceptional entities" operating under exclusive contracts with their management agencies.