On October 5, Korean media reported that Jiyeon (T-ara) and baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun submitted a divorce mediation request to the Seoul Family Court in September. Both the idol and the athlete later confirmed the news.
Prior to this, the couple had been surrounded by divorce rumors for several months. There were several signs pointing to cracks in their marriage after two years of living together. Now, the conclusion is that Jiyeon and Hwang Jae Gyun have officially parted ways.
1. Commentator’s Slip About Jiyeon and Hwang Jae Gyun’s Marriage
In June 2024, rumors of the couple’s marriage breaking down emerged after Hwang Jae Gyun faced criticism for a confrontation with an opponent during a game. At that time, commentator Lee Kwang Gil claimed that Hwang Jae Gyun’s emotional instability and performance decline were due to his divorce from his famous wife. Around the same time, Jiyeon abruptly announced a break from her personal YouTube channel.
In the midst of the rumors, Jiyeon’s representative quickly denied the claims. Later, commentator Lee Kwang Gil apologized to Hwang Jae Gyun for sharing unverified information about his marriage to Jiyeon.
2. Hwang Jae Gyun Drinking All Night With a Strange Woman
In early September, Hwang Jae Gyun was spotted drinking with a strange woman from midnight until 6 AM. This fueled further speculation about his marriage. Netizens questioned, “How could a veteran player like Hwang Jae Gyun be drinking during the middle of the season? More importantly, he’s a married man. Why is he out drinking with another woman until morning? Where was Jiyeon?“
The images of Hwang Jae Gyun partying led many to believe that his marriage to Jiyeon was indeed troubled, causing him to let himself go and enjoy the company of other women without regard for his wife’s feelings. A close source to Jiyeon shared, “It’s difficult to comment on her private life, but I think Jiyeon would have been devastated seeing those pictures. I hope she never sees them.“
3. Jiyeon Removes Her Wedding Ring, Announces Return to Entertainment
After a three-month hiatus from updating her YouTube channel due to personal reasons, Jiyeon returned in September. She expressed happiness as she prepared for a 15th-anniversary fan meeting with T-ara, but she made no mention of her husband, and her wedding ring was notably absent.
The youngest member of T-ara also announced her return to the entertainment industry. Previously, Jiyeon admitted that her marriage had impacted her career. She wasn’t receiving as many job offers, and life had become monotonous. She shared, “I knew there would be challenges when we got married, especially considering our careers. Even knowing that, experiencing it firsthand was incredibly difficult. Honestly, I felt lost. My life felt so empty, as if everything I had worked for had been overshadowed by marriage.”
Source: K14
