[Sports Chosun Reporter Baek Ji-eun] T-ara’s Jiyeon is facing a series of unfortunate events.
Jiyeon’s personal account has been bombarded over the past three days. Her posts are filled with messages demanding explanations, such as “Did you really slap her?”, “That’s incredible”, and “Please explain why you hit her.”
The reason Jiyeon is under fire is because the 2012 T-ara bullying incident has resurfaced.
On the 9th, Kim Kwang-soo, the head of MBK Entertainment, appeared on MBN’s “Gabo JaGO Season 3” and brought up the T-ara bullying incident. He stated his perspective, saying that when Ryu Hwayoung was absent from the Japan Budokan concert due to a leg injury, the other members suffered as a result. Despite this, rumors of bullying circulated on social media, further exacerbated by talk of “willpower,” leading Kim to tear up the contracts of the Ryu sisters, Hwayoung and Hyoyoung, in anger.
However, the Ryu sisters countered Kim’s claims with statements on the 10th and 11th. Hwayoung asserted, “I was indeed bullied by the T-ara members and even suffered verbal and physical abuse,” while Hyoyoung stated, “I sent threatening messages to Ahreum to prevent her from bothering my sister, as I was afraid Hwayoung would have harmful thoughts.”
The T-ara members have kept silent on these matters. In the midst of this, past allegations have resurfaced, such as claims that “Jiyeon slapped Ryu Hwayoung during dance practice” and that “Ryu Hwayoung acted inappropriately, addressing salon staff informally,” relating to the past bullying controversy.
Furthermore, a netizen claiming to be a former employee of Core Contents Media, “A,” has emerged, stating, “The original members were too strong-willed, making it hard for Hwayoung or Ahreum to fit into the group. The claims of verbal and physical abuse were true. I approached Hwayoung when she was crying, and she sobbed that a member had hit her. Even employees turned a blind eye to Hwayoung being hit.”
As these allegations of Hwayoung being assaulted are repeatedly highlighted, calls for Jiyeon’s explanation have intensified.
Additionally, Jiyeon recently announced her separation from baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun. They had faced multiple divorce rumors since earlier this year, worsened by revelations that Hwang was at a drinking party with other women until dawn. Ultimately, they decided to divorce after two years of marriage, leaving fans disheartened. Coupled with these past events, Jiyeon is experiencing one of the toughest years of her life.