Revelation from Ex-Employee: T-ara Members Allegedly Ignored Hwayoung and Physically Assaulted Me

Revisiting T-ARA’s Bullying Controversy: Insights from Former Employees

The longstanding bullying scandal surrounding K-pop group T-ARA has been thrust back into the spotlight by former employees of Core Contents Media, under the leadership of CEO Kim Kwang Soo. Recently, a netizen identified as A shared a candid account online, asserting, “The bullying incident is true,”and expressed a desire to unveil the realities experienced during their tenure at the company.

New Allegations Surface

A recounted experiences from the time of the controversy, noting that Hwayoung, a former member of T-ARA, reportedly benefitted from familial connections to a high-ranking executive within the company. It was revealed that Hwayoung’s older sister was originally slated to join T-ARA but opted out, paving the way for Hwayoung’s entry. “Hwayoung joined the group not for her skills or looks, but through connections,”A stated, highlighting the needless tensions that arose among group members as a result. This sentiment was echoed by staff members, who observed difficulties Hwayoung faced in assimilating with the established group dynamics.

T-ARA's Hwayoung — Image of T-ARA’s Hwayoung

A’s account didn’t stop there; they also mentioned another T-ARA member, Areum, who struggled with the group’s dominant personalities. The former employee described distressing instances of bullying, alleging, “The bullying and verbal abuse were real.”A vividly recalled moments when Hwayoung was emotionally affected, stating, “I remember seeing Hwayoung crying after one of the members hit her.”Although initially skeptical, A affirmed that numerous staff witnessed the group’s silence in the face of these actions.

Reflections on Industry Abuse

In a striking conclusion, A lamented, “T-ARA’s bullying is real. Unfortunately, many idols in the industry engage in violence and power abuse.”A further personal testimony underscored the pervasive issues within the entertainment sector, recounting their own experience of being physically reprimanded by a manager for minor errors. As evidence of their connection to the controversy, A included a photograph of their Core Contents Media business card.

CEO’s Heartfelt Regrets

The narrative surrounding T-ARA received heightened attention following Kim Kwang Soo’s emotional appearance on MBN’s GabojaGO on October 9. The CEO reflected on the T-ARA bullying situation from 2012 with deep remorse, stating, “At the time, the T-ARA members were victims, but due to my actions, they ended up being the perpetrators.” He acknowledged the regret he feels over the fallout of the incident, emphasizing the detrimental impact of his decisions on the group’s trajectory.

T-ARA's Eunjung — Image of T-ARA’s Eunjung

Following Kim’s heartfelt statements, Hwayoung offered her own poignant response, affirming, “It’s true that I was bullied.”She recounted her struggles in being accepted as the new member and revealed that both physical and verbal abuse were commonplace among the existing members. Hwayoung further mentioned that she maintained documentation of the ill-treatment during her time with T-ARA, planning to disclose this evidence in a press conference. However, she claimed that Kim Kwang Soo pressured her to maintain silence, threatening her sister’s contract should she speak out. “I left without even receiving an apology,” Hwayoung noted, “and I have remained silent for 12 years.” While T-ARA members have publicly dismissed bullying allegations, Hwayoung contends their denials have perpetuated a false narrative of innocence.

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