Amid the resurgence of the 12-year-old bullying controversy surrounding K-pop group T-ara, member Qri shared a cryptic post on social media. On Sunday, Qri uploaded a photo of a crescent moon against the night sky. Given the renewed attention on the T-ara bullying rumors, many fans have interpreted the post as a quiet reflection of her thoughts on the ongoing drama.
The controversy was reignited on Saturday during the third season of the South Korean variety show Let’s Go Go. CEO Kim Kwang Soo, who was heavily involved in T-ara’s management, discussed the incident 12 years ago. He explained, “Hwayoung had sprained her ankle—it wasn’t broken, just a ligament strain. We told the other members to perform without her. Because of the choreography, the remaining members had to adjust their routines. But when we arrived at the performance venue, Hwayoung was on stage, singing.”
Kim Kwang Soo continued, “The other members were frustrated and wanted an apology from Hwayoung. However, with all the parents in attendance, I had to consider how Hwayoung’s parents would feel. I told the members I would address it with her parents when I returned to Korea.” His comments sparked renewed interest in the incident that had long been controversial in the K-pop community.
The situation escalated when private conversations among the T-ara members were leaked. Kim revealed, “I called Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung into my office. I tore up their contracts and told them they could leave the group if they wanted. I told them they could go ahead and pursue their careers elsewhere.” He added, “I think T-ara did nothing wrong, so we decided to proceed with our scheduled appearances. I could handle the backlash, but I believed if we stopped, T-ara would never be able to return.”
In the wake of Kim Kwang Soo’s appearance on Let’s Go Go, Hwayoung broke her silence and addressed the bullying allegations. “The bullying claims are true,” she stated, denying the accusation that she had been playing the victim. She explained, “As a new member of T-ara, I felt an immense pressure not to harm the existing members and tried my best to integrate with them. However, the other members subjected me to not only physical violence but also countless verbal assaults.”
Hwayoung also spoke about her departure from the group and the circumstances surrounding her contract termination. “I had plenty of evidence to prove the bullying, and I wanted to hold a press conference to share my side of the story,” she said. “However, Kim Kwang Soo told me that if I chose to remain silent and not hold a press conference, he would terminate my older sister’s contract, which was also signed under the same agency at the time.” She continued, “I felt that remaining silent was the best action. Ultimately, I left the group without receiving an apology, and I’ve stayed quiet about the situation for 12 years.”
T-ara, one of the most prominent K-pop groups of the late 2000s and early 2010s, debuted in 2009 and quickly rose to fame. The group added Hwayoung as a new member in 2010. However, in 2012, allegations of bullying within the group surfaced, leading to Hwayoung’s sudden departure from T-ara in July of the same year. The incident was largely considered resolved after Hwayoung left the group. Still, the controversy has continued to surface over the years, particularly with recent statements from both Hwayoung and Kim Kwang Soo.
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