Kim Joo-young, CEO of Airdore, said, "The bereaved family will not conduct an autopsy" on the suspicion of concealing Hive overwork.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Newzins Hani answers questions from lawmakers at the Environment and Labor Committee's parliamentary audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 15th.

The National Audit of the Environment and Labor Commission, which drew unprecedented attention when New Jeans Hani attended, raised suspicions of concealing overwork in Hive.

In a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on the 14th, Rep. Jeong Hye-kyung (Progressive Party, Proportional) asked Hive's chief human resources officer, CEO Kim Joo-young, "Is it true that an employee collapsed and was taken to a hospital and died?"

In response, CEO Kim Joo-young replied, "I went to the sleeping room in September 2022 to take a rest, and unfortunately, he collapsed and died a few days later of the disease."

Lawmaker Chung pointed out, "It's a personal disease, but from the perspective of the hospitality committee members here, it's overworked," adding, "At that time, Hive's affiliates were greatly expanded, and as they took care of several idol groups at the same time and took care of overseas schedules at the same time, (employees) often worked day and night."

"When I checked with the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation at the time, there was no industrial accident application, and they said it was a chronic disease, but I think it is a problem that we should have checked. I want to ask you the question of whether it is a cover-up of overwork."

Kim Joo-young, CEO of Audore

In response, CEO Kim refuted, saying, "There is absolutely no concealment in Hive." When asked if an autopsy was not conducted, he replied, "It was decided by (the former employee) parents."

In response, lawmaker Chung stressed that "the concealment is originally a cover-up in agreement with the bereaved family," and asked, "Please understand the outline of the case and deliver it to the lawmaker's office."

On this day, CEO Kim Joo-young said, "I will listen carefully to what the committee members pointed out today and go back to implement it," and cried, "I will pay more attention to the voices of artists, including Hani, and carefully examine the human rights of artists so that they can fulfill their dreams and hopes well."