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On November 10, 2024, in a now-deleted Instagram post, TARA's Qri shared a picture of a moon shadowed by the night's darkness. The female artist did not add any caption. This follows recent allegations of bullying regarding former group member Ryu Hwayoung.
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The issue started after the former CEO of TARA's agency, Kim Kwangsoo, mentioned the 12-year-old group's alleged bullying incident on the South Korean variety program Let's Go GO season 3. He narrated the incident when Hwayoung's sister, Hyoyoung, sent alleged threatening messages to TARA's youngest member, Ahreum.
Following Kim Kwangsoo's side of the story on the program, Hwayoung shared a lengthy post through her Instagram handle on November 10, 2024. Through the update, she disclosed her side of the tale, narrating the incident that happened 12 years ago.
TARA's Hwayoung expressed sadness about being silent for the last twelve years
Kim Hwangsoo disclosed Hwayoung's ankle incident, where she sprained it in Let's GO GO season 3. He stated that when the former group member could not perform at the Japan concert, her fellow bandmates urged her to issue an apology. He insisted that the other team members did not bully her.
"At that time, Hwayoung sprained her leg while performing on a music show. She went to Japan for a performance and came back with crutches. The doctor said that her ligament was just a little bit damaged and not broken. We decided to perform without her for now. The group members practiced the entire night without her," he shared.
He further narrated why TARA members expected Hwayoung to apologize.
"But when we got there, Hwayoung was singing. We praised her because she was so special. The other members said 'It was so hard' and wanted to hear Hwayoung say, 'I'm sorry.' Hwayoung's parents were there, so we decided to talk about it after returning from Korea," he stated.
"But in the meantime, the conversation was revealed, and the conflict broke out. I was shocked when I saw it," he added.
The former staff member disclosed that Hwayoung's sister, Hyoyoung, sent alleged hostile messages to Ahreum, who was involved in a bullying controversy. Subsequently, the former CEO got upset and canceled Hwayoung and Hyoyong's exclusive contracts with them.
Following Kim Kwangsoo's appearance, Hwayoung took up the issue on Instagram and shared her side of the story. She began by stating that she did not know why the former CEO made biased and distorted statements about the 12-year-old bullying incident on the show. Subsequently, she felt compelled to rectify his mistakes and convey the truth.
Hwayoung confessed that the story about bullying was true and that she never pretended to be a victim. She stated that since she was a new member of TARA, the female artist tried to blend in with other members without harming the members.
According to Hwayoung's Instagram post, she was physically and verbally abused, and she endured it under the impression that things would get better. She also confessed that she had apologized to members multiple times, contrary to the CEO's claims.
"After I injured my ankle, I apologized to the members several times. Even when I couldn't perform on stage in Japan because of my sprained ankle, I asked the director to let me sing just one song. I felt sorry for the members who must have suffered several times because of me, so I thought I had to sing just one song," she stated.
The former TARA member also mentioned that during the group's contract termination period, she had substantial evidence to support the bullying claims. She also tried to disclose her stance through a press conference. However, she was convinced by Kim Hwangsoo not to do it by offering to cancel her older sister's contract.
Hwayoung explained that she was only 20 years old at the time and subsequently left the group. The female artist confessed that she had remained silent for 12 years and had not received any apology from them. She concluded her statement by questioning former CEO Kim Kwang-soo about the reason behind mentioning the old incident.
The former TARA member added that since she was alone without any agency, she could not fight with him, as he had held substantial power in the entertainment industry for the past 40 years. However, she affirmed that she could unveil the truth behind the incident with confidence.
Presently, TARA features four members—Qri, Hyomin, Jiyeon, and Eunjung. They are managed by labels including MBK, Dingo, EMI, Japan, and Banana Culture.
