Following the bullying scandal, Hwayoung is having a difficult relationship with T-ARA members.
The bullying scandal behind T-ARA’s decline in popularity
T-ARA was one of the hottest second-generation girl groups with a series of hit songs and a large fandom that spanned across Asia.
However, T-ARA’s golden days were reduced almost to nothing after the Hwayoung’s bullying scandal took place.
In 2012, Hwayoung suddenly appeared in public with crutches and a wheelchair, looking feeble and exhausted. In July, the singer left the group, causing bullying rumors to arise. As a result, T-ARA was considered the perpetrator. The public turned their backs on the once-famous girl group.
The hate T-ARA received endured for five years until Ahreum told the whole story. Only then was T-ARA’s name cleared. Nevertheless, an extended period of no activity reduced the group’s popularity significantly.
Ten years after the bullying scandals, T-ARA and Hwayoung still maintain a difficult relationship.
Continuing feud in different forms
Currently, T-ARA members are living their separate lives. In December last year, Jiyeon got married to baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun. The singer is leading a happy and healthy life. In May 2023, Jiyeon casually uploaded a video of herself lifting 82 kg with her lower body, which drew a subtle response from Hwayoung.
Later, Hwayoung posted a video of her lifting 100 kg in the same exercise. Netizens speculated that Hwayoung was trying to “compete” with Jiyeon.
On 4 June 2023, Jiyeon posted another video boasting that she was able to lift 130 kg in a lower-body exercise. At the same time, on June 6, Hwayoung posted a photo revealing she was feeling pain from the exercise. While there was no explicit mention, netizens were especially invested in Hwayoung and Jiyeon’s “competition.”
Hwayoung clapping for Eunjung – a relationship on the mend?
Recently, Hwayoung encountered Eunjung at the 2023 “Jecheon International Music & Film Festival.” When Eunjung made a short speech at the festival, a clip revealed Hwayoung was clapping for her former group member.
The video took viewers by surprise when Hwayoung showed a friendly attitude toward a T-ARA member. Netizens deemed this moment “historic” as it might be sign of a change in Hwayoung’s difficult relationship with T-ARA.
Source: k14
