A representative of the fan group Team Bunnies, who organized a fundraising campaign to respond to malicious posts targeting NewJeans, has been referred to the Juvenile Division of the Family Court on charges of violating the Fundraising Act. The individual is a minor, which influenced the authorities’ decision.
According to a report by ChosunBiz on October 28, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office found evidence that 'A,' a minor associated with Team Bunnies, violated the Fundraising Act and decided to transfer the case to the Juvenile Division of the Seoul Family Court. Considering A’s age and the nature of the actions, prosecutors opted for a protective proceeding under juvenile law rather than criminal prosecution.
A legal expert commented, “It’s likely that this happened due to a lack of understanding of the relevant laws. Minors are generally subject to the Juvenile Act, and this case was not considered punishable under criminal law.”
The Juvenile Division will review A’s age, the severity of the actions, and the potential for rehabilitation to determine whether to handle the matter as a protective case. Possible measures include counseling, community service, or probation; if deemed minor, the case could be closed without any action.
Team Bunnies is a subgroup of the NewJeans fandom, Bunnies, formed last year amid escalating tensions between HYBE and ADOR. On October 21 of last year, they launched an online fundraising campaign claiming they would report malicious posts targeting NewJeans. Within about eight hours, they raised over 50 million KRW (approx. 34,928 USD). However, the campaign immediately sparked controversy for violating the Fundraising Act.
Under current law, anyone raising donations exceeding 10 million KRW (approx. 6,785.78 USD) must register with the relevant authorities. Violations carry penalties of up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million KRW (approx. 20,957 USD). A complaint was filed by a netizen through the official grievance system, and the Seoul city government confirmed that the fundraiser had not been pre-registered.
The collected funds are reportedly frozen. When under investigation, withdrawals are restricted to preserve evidence. Depending on the investigation’s outcome, any unused funds will be returned to donors according to the law.
Team Bunnies attracted attention during the conflict between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee Jin. While their exact identities were never officially confirmed, they described themselves as a “group of experts from various fields supporting NewJeans.”
The group supported NewJeans member Hanni’s attendance at a National Assembly audit and sent messages and faxes to many lawmakers requesting the attendance of HYBE representatives. They also claimed to have obtained internal company documents comparing HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab’s idol group ILLIT’s project plan with ADOR’s NewJeans plan, revealing confidential corporate information.
The broader NewJeans fandom, Bunnies, clarified that “Team Bunnies does not represent the opinions of the entire fandom.”
SEE ALSO: Teen behind NewJeans-related fundraising scandal sent to juvenile court
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