What Is Newjeans Haerin Really Like? Her Middle School Friend Reveals the Truth
By Alexander Ross
In August 2022, shortly after NewJeans achieved an explosive debut with "Attention" and "Hype Boy," an online post titled "Revealing NewJeans HAERIN's True Personality" circulated across South Korean community forums. The author, who attended Kwiin Middle School alongside Haerin in Pyeongchon, Anyang, shared personal memories alongside pre-debut yearbook photographs to verify their identity. As reported by national broadcaster SBS Star, the classmate took the initiative to post publicly because early online speculation began misinterpreting Haerin's quiet demeanor on music programs as cold or dismissive.
The classmate's account painted a radically different picture. In middle school, Haerin was widely recognized for her striking visuals, yet she never leveraged her popularity for social status. The peer described her as an extraordinarily polite student who spoke in hushed tones, listened intently when others talked, and deliberately avoided school gossip. She maintained a reputation for quiet acts of kindness, often sharing snacks, greeting quiet classmates warmly, and comforting peers without drawing attention to herself.
When Haerin withdrew from formal schooling in 2020 to commit fully to her trainee training under ADOR, she did so quietly. Her decision to pursue her education independently through the South Korean middle school qualification examination (GED equivalent) highlighted her practical, disciplined work ethic. Peers remembered her departure not as a sudden bid for vanity, but as a focused pursuit of dance and musical craft.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
