SNL Korea under fire for controversial parody of NewJeans’ Hanni

Netizens condemn SNL Korea for excessively mocking NewJeans’ Hanni in parody of workplace harassment testimony

SNL Korea Season 6 cast members Kim Eui-sung and Ji Ye-eun. /Courtesy of SNL Korea

SNL Korea is under fire after airing a parody of NewJeans member Hanni, who was referenced during the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee audit on Oct. 15, which focused on bullying and workplace harassment at HYBE. Critics have labeled the skit as “disrespectful” and even accused it of “racism.”

The controversial episode from SNL Korea Season 6, released on Oct. 19, included a skit in which actress Ji Ye-eun played Hanni, while actor Kim Eui-sung portrayed the head of Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, who had taken a selfie with Hanni during the audit—a moment that had already caused public debate.

Ji Ye-eun’s portrayal included a costume and wig resembling Hanni’s outfit from her well-known “Blue Coral Reef” performance. The skit further drew attention as Ji mimicked Hanni’s foreign accent, saying, “I’m here because I was bullied at work.” When asked to clarify, her character responded, “I greeted someone from another team, and their boss said, ‘Just ignore her,’ which hurt my feelings.”

After delivering her lines, she smiled widely at Kim Eui-sung’s cellphone for a selfie, despite the objections from the congressmen characters in the skit, with one even requesting that the photo be sent to them later.

The sketch has sparked intense criticism, with viewers calling it inappropriate for the show to make light of such a sensitive issue. Many saw it as trivializing the experience of someone who had spoken out about workplace harassment, while others found the caricature of Hanni’s accent offensive and racist.

They argued that using a foreigner’s accent as a joke reinforces harmful stereotypes, especially for those who are often mocked for their pronunciation, like Asians and non-native English speakers.

In the wake of the controversy, Ji Ye-eun’s Instagram was flooded with negative comments, with many urging an apology and using the hashtag #SNLKOREA_APOLOGIZE_TO_HANNI.

Some, however, defended the skit, claiming it was simply a comedic parody of a public figure and that the criticism was overblown.

Hanni’s original testimony at the National Assembly audit highlighted the bullying she faced at HYBE. She shared her confusion about the treatment, saying, “I couldn’t understand why this was happening in a workplace or why such things were being said. I sincerely hope that no one, including current trainees, has to endure this in the future.”