T-Ara announcements and controversies

CCM reveals the dark side of Hwayoung, mudslinging ensues

According to Core Contents Media, after their Budokan concert and return to Korea on July 27th, T-ara was preparing to go on stage for a live broadcast in Music Bank. With only two groups before them left to go, Hwayoung suddenly decided that she did not want to perform on stage that day. CCM had decided that due to her leg injury, Hwayoung would sit on a chair on stage for her rap segment, and so the girls had successfully completed their camera rehearsal before the broadcast. However, Hwayoung suddenly changed her mind and refused to go on stage.

The agency stated that in order to prevent an accident on live TV, members Eunjung and Hyomin were pressed to learn Hwayoung’s rap segment in the short amount of time they had before their turn. With the new pressure, Hyomin was clearly nervous and ended up making a mistake during the rap segment. Hwayoung, in front of fans and reporters, threw down her crutches and sat on the floor, threatening to yell at the managers in public if she could not go home.

CCM CEO Kim Kwang Soo stated, “We will not be revealing any more of Hwayoung’s similar behaviors outside of the Music Bank incident because we do want to protect her. I am also sorrowed by the words left on Hwayoung’s Twitter.”

Hwayoung to leave the group

T-ara‘s parent company Core Contents Media announced that one of its members, Hwayoung, will be leaving the group. CEO Kim Kwang Soo announced the departure in a press release written by the president himself. “In deference to the complaints by T-ara’s staff of 19 people (5 stylists, 7 hair & makeup, 5 on-site managers, 2 team managers), Hwayoung’s contract as an artist will be voided effective immediately with no conditions.”

He denied any correlation with the recent controversy that erupted following tweets from the T-ara members that were interpreted by many as one-sided bullying against Hwayoung. “We wish to impress upon the fact that this has nothing to do with the ‘bullying’ reports surrounding T-ara. Although the staff of Core Contents Media stayed up into early morning discussing with the T-ara members who all wanted to stay with Hwayoung, we apologize in saying that we could not forsake the arguments of the staff members.”

“We deeply apologize for the many incidents which made everyone who loved T-ara nervous and worried, and we have nothing but sadness to convey such an unsettling incident on their third anniverary. We also apologize again to the T-ara members and wish Hwayoung all the best as a powerful rapper. Since she has great potentials as a rapper, we decided to end her contract without conditions and we believe that she will grow into the future as a free artist.”

Hwayoung was with T-ara for 20 months, leaving original members Boram, Qri, Eunjung, Soyeon, Hyomin, and Jiyeon, as well as new member Ahreum.

Netizens dig up evidence of Hwayoung being bullied?

Amidst the heated controversy, netizens have discovered further evidence to prove the speculated rumors regarding Hwayoung being bullied to be true. On November 6, 2011, a post titled, “Being an outcast.. Really is difficult and tiresome“, was uploaded onto Nate Pann, an online community forum, under the username ‘Suk Ryu’ (Ryu is Hwayoung’s last name).

Although the post has yet to be confirmed, netizens have speculated it to indeed be Hwayoung, as it well matched her current situation. The message read:

"Hello. I’ve been contemplating whether I should post this or not, but have decided to write a few things. The group I’m in is… A group everybody will know just by revealing the group’s initial. I’m a new member in the group, so it has been very awkward and because I’m also very timid, I’m unable to approach them easily.  That’s one of the reasons why I’m becoming an outcast.

he original members must have strongly opposed my addition to the group. I’m basically treated as if I’m an invisible at the dorm. But when the cameras are rolling, they would suddenly have their arms around my shoulders. When we’re practicing, I really feel like I’m going to die. When I make a little mistake, I’d get criticized hearing things like, ‘You can’t even do this?’ and would get cursed at.

Even right now, I’m alone since they all went grocery shopping without me. They’ll be back in a few hours, but I want to just forget about my singing career and leave. However, this is the path I decided to take and I’m the one who decided to join, so it’s hard to do so. I feel a bit better now that I’ve written this.

Thank you."

T-Jinyo group formed demanding truth

Criticisms have been rising for T-ara as more “evidence” is surfacing in regards to the bullying. In addition, a website titled T-Jinyo (We Demand the Truth from T-ara) was formed and is rapidly seeing an increase in members by the hour.

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