This is the second time HYBE Labels has come under fire for abuse this month.
Koreaboo
BELIFT LAB is facing intense criticism from fans following ENHYPEN Ni-Ki’s heartbreaking admissions during a recent live broadcast.
Earlier this week, Ni-Ki went live on Weverse and revealed something that shocked fans: the idol hasn’t been able to return home since before I-LAND, the survival show that formed the group.
During the broadcast, Ni-Ki mentioned that it had been so long since he went home, he wasn’t sure if his bedroom would even be there anymore. His father, however, quickly responded on social media with a touching post featuring Ni-Ki’s dog, Bisco, with a caption letting Ni-Ki know his room is still there for him.
ni-ki’s dad IG story makes me SOBBB 😭
in ni-ki’s live, he said he doesnt even know if his room is still there in their family’s house, because he hasnt been able to come since debut.
ni-ki, you still have a room in your home, please come any time 😭😭#NI_KI #니키 #ニキ pic.twitter.com/BnWvSUp8zm
— kira (fan account) (@allforchulsoo) August 29, 2025
Unsurprisingly, Ni-Ki’s revelation has since sparked fierce backlash. Fans are now accusing BELIFT LAB of “abuse” toward their idols, with many angry that the group has been too overworked to even take trips back home.
so is this not abuse? https://t.co/rZ55OI4Px8
— ★ (@leehyeinified) August 30, 2025
“please come anytime” oh FUCK YOU @BELIFTLAB https://t.co/MqvYv5E4Up pic.twitter.com/ksagyIkuan
— mhmm (@onenabnk) August 29, 2025
Mnet’s I-LAND aired from June to September 2020, when Ni-Ki was just 14 years old. Ni-Ki had previously moved from Japan to South Korea alone in August 2019 to become a BELIFT LAB trainee at the age of 13. This means it’s been around five to six years since the star last saw his family home in Japan.
Since then, Ni-Ki has traveled to Japan with ENHYPEN multiple times for concerts and events, leaving fans even more frustrated. While Ni-Ki, now 19 years old, has been seen greeting his family members during his activities in Japan, it still appears that he hasn’t been given enough time to visit them at home.
this is literally so devastating i’m gonna cry https://t.co/yaeFUml1Qw
— sevda (@jennrkx) August 29, 2025
I swear this is illegal on Belift’s part..? 😭 https://t.co/K1mkF05aEZ
— yeowo (@nayeonsditto) August 29, 2025
Fans previously saw this separation take an emotional toll on Ni-Ki back in 2021, when he broke down in tears during the group’s EN-CONNECT: Companion fanmeeting over how much he missed his family. In the early years of ENHYPEN’s debut, Japan was subject to strict travel regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“because of the situation that even if i want to meet my family i can’t…there are many days when i just endured it by myself without telling the members but now that engenes are in front of me, i just miss my family so much”
— 세라 (@ihs_heeseung) November 19, 2021
The criticism comes just weeks after HYBE Labels came under fire over a comment from TXT’s Soobin, who revealed that he was physically abused as a BIGHIT Music trainee when he was in middle school. His admission sparked conversation among fans of NJZ (NewJeans), who previously described HYBE as an emotionally “abusive dad” during their ongoing dispute with the company.
TXT’s Soobin Account Of Abuse As A BIGHIT Trainee Triggers Heated Debate About NJZ’s (NewJeans) Claims Against HYBE
