Hwang Jae-gyun’s Late-Night Bar Outing During Divorce Speculations with T-ara Star Jiyeon

On September 4th, a citizen revealed photos of Hwang Jae-gyun drinking with a group that included women until 6 AM on September 1st. After finishing a game in Daejeon on August 31st, Hwang returned to Seoul and was seen socializing with male and female acquaintances until early the next morning. Notably, September 1st was a rest day with no games or training scheduled.

However, a fan who submitted the photos criticized Hwang, stating, “Hwang Jae-gyun is the senior-most player in the KT Wiz team during an important regular season. With the fall baseball season approaching, it does not look favorable for a married man to be out drinking with women until 6 AM.” The fan further added, “Given the ongoing divorce rumors, Hwang’s behavior is troubling.”

It has since been confirmed that the bar Hwang visited is a well-known hunting bar in Apgujeong, located in Gangnam. This popular bar is open until 5 AM on Sundays through Thursdays and until 6 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Featuring outdoor seating and a reputation as a “hot spot,” the bar attracts young people, particularly from the MZ generation, who gather to socialize. On major search engines, this establishment is often referred to as an “Apgujeong hunting bar.”

Another witness account emerged on September 1st, where a netizen posted on a sports cafe message board asking, “Did Hwang Jae-gyun separate or divorce?” The post stated, “I saw Hwang drinking with acquaintances in Apgujeong Rodeo until 4 AM yesterday. Is he separated or divorced? Usually, married people do not stay out that late.”

The scrutiny surrounding Hwang’s bar visit is intensified due to existing divorce rumors involving him and Jiyeon. The couple married in December 2022 and had previously shared updates about their seemingly happy life on social media. However, on June 25th, during a baseball broadcast by KNN, commentator Lee Kwang-gil stirred controversy by stating, “Did you know Hwang Jae-gyun got divorced?” This remark fueled existing divorce speculation, particularly after Jiyeon posted on June 20th about personal reasons affecting her YouTube uploads, requesting understanding and promising to return with a brighter image.

Jiyeon subsequently denied the rumors through her close acquaintances, asserting they were unfounded. Commentator Lee also expressed regret, clarifying, “I heard it from someone who read it in a newspaper and misunderstood. I thought it was true, but I was wrong to say it without verifying the information.” KT Wiz, Hwang’s team, also commented, stating, “We cannot confirm anything about his private life,” as they attempted to diffuse the situation.

Although the initial divorce rumors seemed to quiet down following clarifications from both Hwang and Jiyeon, alongside Lee Kwang-gil’s apology, Hwang’s recent late-night outing has reignited the controversy.

Source: Nate