YTN | Journalist Choi Boran
https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/052/0002114293
YTN Star managed to contact two individuals who had worked as rap teachers for trainees and artists under Core Contents Media during T-ARA's active years.
Lee Joohyo, who was in charge of training the company's singers between 2010 and 2013, stated, "It is true that Hwayoung was bullied." She also added that she had seen messages from T-ARA's group chats at the time.
Lee said "I've seen the messages in T-ARA members' group chat. Before a performance in Japan, Hwayoung injured her leg. She couldn't walk properly because her leg was swollen. Hwayoung apologized to the members for not being able to join the performance. Normally, people will respond, 'Get well soon,' or 'Don't worry.' Instead, all the members simply sent 'ㅋㅋㅋㅋ'. That was really shocking."
Lee continued, "As widely known, the members also posted similar tweets on Twitter, saying things like 'The difference of will,' and 'Give an applause to the genius,' clearly targeting one person (Hwayoung). Bullying isn't always physical. Hwayoung struggled greatly due to the members' bullying and even said that she wanted to quit T-ARA."
Additionally, Lee revealed, "Hwayoung referred to the members as the 'T-ARA girls' even after she debuted, which shows that she didn't feel like she belonged to the group."
What was the cause of the conflict within the group? Lee speculated, "It seemed like the original members were unhappy with a new member coming in. It's understandable, they might think newcomers are gaining rewards without effort. I don't want to justify their actions, but they were all very young. There are many idols who pick sides and fight." Lee also mentioned, "No one wanted to share a room with Hwayoung, so she stayed in the living room. The company knew about this, they should have intervened."
Tarae, another trainer who worked with Core Contents Media from 2010 to 2011, added, "I didn't witness the incidents directly, but Hwayoung often said that she was having a hard time and the members seemed to keep things under the rug. I thought it was weird. At the beginning of her debut, it was all fine. But her demeanor worsened over time."
Tarae recalled, "Idols have fights, so I thought T-ARA had a similar situation. I didn't know it was that bad. One day, Hwayoung came with a red cheek. When I asked her about it, she didn't explain and just brushed it off. However, anyone could tell she'd been hit. So I said, 'It looks like you got hit,' and she eventually admitted, 'OO hit me.' That was one of the visible signs of bullying."
Regarding Hwayoung's leg injury that sparked controversy, Tarae said, "I remember Hwayoung apologizing to the members and asking to perform despite being injured, but she was misunderstood. Hwayoung that I know is not a person who wouldn't perform just because she was hurt. Because of her ambition, it would only make her want to perform even more. She is not the type of person who would fake an injury to avoid performing."
Tarae noted, "At first, only insiders knew about the bullying. But after the rumors became known to the public, claims of Hwayoung mistreating a stylist, etc suddenly emerged. I asked Hwayoung about it, and she denied those accusations and felt wronged." Tarae added, "In the end, the company was never on Hwayoung's side. It would be the end for T-ARA if the company was on Hwayoung's side. Bullying is a serious issue. It was easier for the company to frame Hwayoung as the perpetrator since it would only cost them one person."
We have tried to obtain a statement from Kim Kwangsoo, the CEO of T-ARA's former agency. However, he did not respond.
-I remember Tarae. That person also testified back then.
-Wow... This whole article is very shocking.
-The whole company bullied such a young girl. Even as an outsider, I feel disgusted.
-T-ARA members are so mean
-No matter how much you hate someone, if they get hurt, you'd usually feel sympathy first. But they just laughed?? Not to mention that except for Jiyeon, they're all around 5 years older than Hwayoung...
-Hwayoung apologized for getting hurt and they all just laughed at her. They must be out of their mindsㅋㅋ
-I hope more evidence comes out. Will those people who refuse to believe still not believe?
-They're all doing interviews and even revealing their own names...ㅠ
-She slept in the living room. Whoaㅋㅋㅋ Hwayoung has been enduring it all without saying anything for so long...
-I can't believe she really got slapped on the cheek....
-They should've at least been thankful to Hwayoung since she never said anything. Instead, they tried to turn the victim into the perpetrator. These bastards...
-The people on Hwayoung's side are all coming forward and doing interviews. Yeah, because they don't have anything to hide.
-If this is true, they're really cruel...
-Crazy... This is shocking...
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