Hyein of NewJeans Addresses Fans on Her 17th Birthday Amid Challenges
On April 21, 2025, Hyein, a young member of the popular group NewJeans, celebrated her 17th birthday. In a touching gesture, she shared handwritten letters addressed to her supporters, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering support during her recent hiatus. This celebration came at a time when NewJeans, now under the rebranded name NJZ, faced significant legal disputes with their agency, ADOR. Despite the challenges, Hyein took to the group’s official Instagram account to share her appreciation with fans.
The festivities, however, took a somber turn when a fansite voiced dissatisfaction over Hyein’s absence at their birthday café event. Following the backlash, Hyein issued an apology, emphasizing that her absence was not intended and was due to sudden stomach pain that prevented her attendance at multiple fan-organized locations.
Hyein expressed her sorrow over potentially disappointing fans and acknowledged the substantial effort that went into organizing the celebrations. While many supporters lauded her honesty and understanding, some prominent fansites reacted negatively, leading to a distressing response from the community. One notable fansite, @forestofwho, even went so far as to delete their page out of frustration about her absence.
This situation sparked widespread support for Hyein among fans, highlighting a collective understanding of the pressures she faces. Fans rallied across social media platforms to defend her, arguing that she should not feel obligated to attend every single fan event, particularly while unwell. An X user, @bratzdollhyein, expressed outrage at the negativity directed towards the teenager, stating:
“crashing out and being mean to hyein for no reason at all like??? she is NOT obliged to visit every birthday cafe in the world, did not expect this from hyein’s biggest k-fansites, like u all do not fucking deserve her why does hyein always have to go thru this bullsh*t.”
Supporters emphasized that Hyein, still a teenager, should be met with compassion rather than criticism amidst her public and legal struggles. “I feel bad for her; she’s just a child. Their relationship to their fandom is unhealthy and crosses too many boundaries,”commented a fellow user on X. Others commented on the expectations placed on idols, particularly during personal milestones like birthdays:
“The fans crossing limit. It was a fan event. Why expect idols to do anything?”said one netizen.
Amid this backlash, fans noted Hyein’s efforts to maintain a connection with them even while navigating the pressures of celebrity culture. They highlighted her commitment to thanking her supporters, despite the circumstances surrounding her birthday.
“she couldn’t even enjoy her own birthday fully, and still thanked us with so much love. hy ein is truly one of a kind,”remarked another fan.
“imagine getting angry towards a 17yo on her birthday???? they don’t deserve her,”another user commented.
Critics pointed out the problematic sense of entitlement exhibited by certain fan segments, insisting that it overshadowed the sincerity of Hyein’s birthday messages. As another fan put it,
“are you fxx*king insane @forestofwho @VIDINHYE???? hyein has no obligation to go to the cafe you organized and she herself had to apologize because her stomach hurt, why are you being so selfish? and why would you do this on her birthday???? please think carefully.”
The emotional toll on Hyein was palpable, as her birthday unfolded during a precarious time for NewJeans. In her letters to fans, she expressed deep appreciation for their messages. Each note provided her with strength. Hyein conveyed her desire to respond individually to each fan, though she feared that some might feel overlooked. Her sentiments were captured in her touching letter:
“hello to all the Bunnies! Thank you so much for the birthday wishes! Honestly, every single letter gave me so much strength and comfort, so I really wanted to write back to each of you! But since I couldn’t, I’m really worried that some Bunnies who didn’t get a reply might feel hurt. I really hope you’re not too upset! We truly cherish every single Bunny who supports us equally!”
Regarding her absence from fan events, she elaborated:
“I actually wanted to go to the PX we had visited before, but just as I got right in front of it, my stomach started hurting so badly that I couldn’t go in. (I was seriously in so much pain, I’m not lying…) So… I felt really bad that I couldn’t go to every place fairly, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry! I know you all must’ve worked so hard to prepare everything!”
Ongoing Challenges for NewJeans Amid Celebrations
This birthday occasion emerged during a turbulent period for NewJeans, which had recently transitioned to the name NJZ following an attempt to dissolve their contract with ADOR in November 2024. Following a court ruling that barred them from pursuing any new deals, the group found themselves in a state of limbo, unable to engage in their planned activities. The recent events have underscored the profound bond between Hyein and her fans, even amidst uncertainty.