Former trainee Harin’s alleged NewJeans past stirs heated online debates. Shaman claims and timeline gaps add fuel to the fire. A single Instagram “like” ignites a wave of backlash.Instagram @hariiiny
August 10 turned into a day full of breaking news in the K-pop world. Alongside reports that NewJeans had been removed from ADOR’s official website, the public was stunned by a revelation from Harin—identified as a former ADOR trainee—through her personal YouTube channel. In her video which was uploaded around last July, Harin claimed she was suddenly terminated from the trainee program shortly after signing a contract and being promised a debut. Even more shocking, she alleged the decision came after Min Hee-jin consulted a shaman, who declared Harin was “possessed by a spirit” and carried bad fortune. Her story quickly went viral on Korean online communities such as FM Korea.
Harin, whose real name is Harada Rin, is a Japanese model who was once rumored to be part of NJZ’s pre-debut lineup—the group’s working name before it became NewJeans. Photos from her trainee days resurfaced on social media, sparking heated discussions about her striking visuals, which many felt stood out from the group’s current image. Had she debuted, she would have been the oldest member and the only Japanese member, shifting the group’s current all-Korean lineup.
While many netizens praised her beauty, others felt her charm was too “mature” for NewJeans’ youthful concept. Some netizens even remarked that she seemed too smart to be fooled. Mixed opinions quickly filled online forums and social media:
“They were originally going to have six members, but Min Hee-jin supposedly asked a shaman and was told one member had bad fortune, so they cut it down to five. LOL”
“She’s gorgeous, but compared to the NewJeans members, she looks way more mature.”
“She’s stunning, but she just doesn’t have that unique NewJeans vibe.”
“Let's be real here, no one wants her to debut. HYBE has a lot of new GGs after Newjeans, if she's good other label from that company will take her. She didn't make it, that's it.”
“mhj dont want a older trainess because she can't manipulate or brainwash them”
“More like too smart to be fooled”
As conversations spread, some began questioning the validity of Harin’s claim as a former ADOR trainee. Online sleuths dissected the timeline and spotted inconsistencies: ADOR officially launched in 2021, while Harin reportedly trained in 2020. One viral comment explained:
“The final debuted team (5 members) moved to ADOR in 2021 and signed contracts in 2022. The timeline doesn’t match.”
The controversy intensified when Harin was spotted liking a comment on Instagram that read:
“Should be thankful because Harin did not debut with NJ, so she did not get a case.”
To many netizens, this was seen as endorsing a negative, even hateful comment toward NewJeans. Soon after, the “like” disappeared, fueling speculation that Harin intentionally removed it once she noticed the backlash.
Public reactions became increasingly divided, with some accusing her of chasing clout and others urging people to move on. Sharp remarks filled both X and Instagram:
“She’s enjoying the momentary attention from bang wives but we know it means nothing in the end they’ll drop her.”
“This unknown girl finally getting some attention after how failed career run case or not NewJeans is still trending everywhere… this b***h is just jealous and bitter.”
“Watch them blame it on a staff member and say it was her manager who liked that comment if she gets backlash.”
“Wow, turns out her attitude isn’t good either.”
“Ok, time for everyone to move on & stop giving more free promo.”
“What a clout chaser.”
“Yeah, her attitude is bad too.”
Public opinion remains split between those who see Harin as a victim of an abrupt decision and those who believe her actions—including the “like” incident—have damaged her own image. One thing is certain: this episode adds yet another chapter to the ongoing saga surrounding NewJeans and ADOR, a story that shows no signs of fading from Korea’s entertainment headlines anytime soon.
Amid this divided public perception, Harin herself appears aware of the attention she is receiving. On the 14th, she once again drew public focus with a lengthy post on her YouTube Community tab. In the Japanese-language post, she expressed gratitude for the sudden attention but also admitted feeling somewhat concerned about the unfolding situation. Harin emphasized that the interview she had previously shared was merely a personal reflection on past disappointments, not an accusation or attack against any company or individual. She also promised to keep striving to show a better side of herself in the future.
Screenshot of Harin community post on her YouTube Channel
Interestingly, shortly after that YouTube Community post, several of Harin’s older videos—including the controversial interview that sparked debate—suddenly disappeared from her personal YouTube channel. This once again raised questions among netizens about whether the deletions were intentional, meant to calm the controversy, or simply a form of personal reflection amid the growing public spotlight.
Sources: Koreaboo, FM Korea, Daum, pann.nate, X (formerly twitter)
Harin’s story sounds heartbreaking, but that Instagram ‘like’ was questionable… Still hoping for peace for everyone involved! 
