Lee Areum

Bullying scandal

On July 25-26, T-ara held a concert in Japan where Hwayoung performed only one song due to an alleged leg injury. Afterward, Hyomin tweeted, "There are differences in levels of determination. Let us have more determination," which the other members supported.^[1] Hwayoung responded, "Sometimes, even determination alone is not enough... God, you know everything right?". Her sister Hyoyoung added, "My better half is suffering. My heart hurts.".^[2] These tweets led to speculation of conflict within the group, which caused a major controversy and backlash against the members.^[3]

On July 30, Core Contents Media announced Hwayoung's departure after 1 year and 8 months, citing staff complaints and denying the bullying rumors.^[4][2][5] Despite both sides stating there was no bullying,^[6][7][8][9] public opinion overwhelmingly supported Hwayoung, leading to T-ara temporarily suspending activities.^[10][11]

In February 2017, Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung appeared on Live Talk Show Taxi and revisited the controversy. While Hwayoung initially denied bullying, she now claimed she was "hated" and "bullied" by the other members.^[12] Shortly after, a former staff member alleged the twins had actually "bullied" the other members and released texts showing Hyoyoung threatening Areum with physical harm for not supporting Hwayoung.^[13]

Following this, more staff members revealed evidence of Hwayoung being disrespectful to members and stylists, and exaggerating her injury for sympathy. Although Hwayoung initially denied the claims and criticized the staffers, she later admitted the texts were real and subsequently deleted her Instagram account.^[14]

In 2024, former agency chief Kim Kwang-soo reignited the controversy and remarked: "T-ara members did nothing wrong." In response, Hwayoung countered that she was indeed subjected to physical and verbal abuse from some group members, had evidence to support her claims, but kept silent so she and her twin sister could be released from the agency contracts.^[15]

Legal

In August 2010, Voice of the People newspaper reported that the operator of T-ara's fan cafe embezzled money after collecting it from members. The embezzled amount is reported to have ranged from several million to 10 million won.^[16]

On April 13, 2012, T-ara was supposed to hold a concert in the United States with Davichi and Yangpa, titled "Power & Beauty in San Francisco", with around 8,000 tickets already sold.^[17] However, the concert was postponed and later cancelled due to visas not being prepared four days before the event. The event organizer, Namu Entertainment later sued Core Contents Media, blaming the agency for not taking precautions and not preparing visas in time.^[18][19]

In 2013, the Seoul District prosecutor's office charged a 39 year old male for fraudulently taking advantage of T-ara's image on Smart Phone applications and obtain ₩110 million.^[20]

In 2014, MBK Entertainment announced that they had cancelled T-ara's third Japan tour after being scammed by the organizer who had embezzled around 200 million KRW (~$174,000 USD). The scammer was caught 2 years later in 2015.^[21][22]

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15. KTimes (November 12, 2024). "T-ara bullying controversy reignited with Hwayoung's counter revelations". Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
16. "티아라 팬카페 운영자 1,000만원 횡령 파문" [T-ara fan cafe operator embezzles 10 million won]. Voice of The People. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
17. "K-POP 콘서트 북가주 최초 상륙 - 미주 한국일보" [First K-POP concert to land in Northern California]. www.koreatimes.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
18. "한류콘서트 무산 티아라 소속사 패소" [T-ara agency loses Korean Wave concert]. www.lawtimes.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
19. "티아라·다비치, 매진된 13일 美공연 4월 연기..왜?" [T-ara and Davichi postpone their sold-out US concert on the 13th to April..Why?]. Star News (in Korean). January 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
20. 뉴스, SBS (January 30, 2013). ""2PM 초상권 따내줄게, 티아라는 어때?" 억대 사기". SBS NEWS (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
21. 윤, 정민 (October 8, 2015). "[사회] "티아라 일본 콘서트 열게 해주겠다" 소속사 대표 속여 2억 가로챈 조폭 검거" [Arrested a gangster who stole 200 million won by deceiving the representative of the agency "I will let T-ara hold a concert in Japan"]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
22. ""티아라 일본 공연 추진하겠다"...2억 가로챈 '조폭' 2년만에 덜미" ["We will promote T-ara's Japanese concert"... 'Gangster' who stole 200 million won in 2 years]. Money Today (in Korean). October 7, 2015. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2023.