T-ara bullying controversy reignited with Hwayoung's counter revelations

Former T-ara member Hwayoung has reopened the T-ara bullying controversy with new allegations, countering recent statements made by MBK Entertainment CEO Kim Kwang-soo.

Kim reignited the controversy on a Saturday episode of MBN's entertainment TV show "Let's Go," where he said, "T-ara members did nothing wrong."

He attributed past tensions to Hwayoung's ankle injury ahead of a 2012 Japanese concert, saying that her absence forced the other members to re-learn choreography for over 20 songs, leading to conflict when Hwayoung allegedly failed to apologize.

Kim claimed that he ultimately terminated the contracts of Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung to resolve the discord but avoided exposing the issue fully to protect their reputations.

"The parents of the other members suggested a press conference to reveal the truth, including text messages, but I held back, worried about the impact on Hwayoung and Hyoyoung," Kim said. Reflecting on T-ara's hardships due to the scandal, he added, "Sometimes, the members visit on my birthday, and we cry. I wonder if my choices hurt their futures."

Hwayoung: 'I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse'

Following the broadcast, Hwayoung took to social media on Nov. 10, directly rebutting Kim's statements.

In a lengthy post, she questioned his motivations, writing, "What's the purpose of bringing up a 12-year-old story, naming me and twisting the truth?" She described herself as having lived with guilt and regret, watching the controversy damage both T-ara's and her own career. "I endured the rumors silently despite the trauma and unfairness," she said.

Hwayoung disputed Kim's portrayal, asserting that the bullying "absolutely happened" and recounting specific instances of alleged abuse. "It wasn't just exclusion," she claimed. "I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse from some of the members."

She described feeling isolated and targeted, adding, "There were times they would say hurtful things to me, and it was relentless. I wanted nothing more than to fit in and be part of the team."

Hwayoung also contradicted Kim's suggestion that she hadn't apologized to the group after injuring her ankle. "I apologized to the members repeatedly after my injury. I felt guilty and worried that my injury was causing problems for everyone."

Regarding past criticism of her nail care while injured, Hwayoung said, "Yes, I did get my nails done at the hotel, but it wasn't for personal satisfaction — it was to fix a broken nail before going on stage." She expressed frustration over the incident being "mischaracterized" as self-indulgence, saying, "It was humiliating to have something so minor twisted and used against me."

In a new revelation, Hwayoung said that, at the time, she had considered holding a press conference to present evidence of the alleged bullying but ultimately stayed quiet.

"I had proof, and I was ready to share it all. But Kim offered me a deal: If I stayed silent, he would release my sister Hyoyoung from her contract," she said. "At 20, I thought that was the best option, so I left the group without an apology and kept quiet for 12 years."

This revived dispute has sparked intense debate online, with fans and the public divided over the long-standing controversy. The issue has once again polarized opinions, and with neither side showing signs of backing down, the wounds of the T-ara scandal appear far from healed.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.