Actress Ryu Hyoyoung Gets Honest About Her Part In The T-ARA Bullying Controversy

Actress Ryu Hyoyoung, the twin sister of former T-ARA member Ryu Hwayoung, has spoken up about her sister’s past involvement with the group. The group faced a terrible bullying scandal when they were accused of bullying Hwayoung. Tables turned years later as the public switched sides, newly believing that Hwayoung had shirked her duties and framed the girls.

Hwayoung previously spoke up on the issue again after her former CEO, Kim Kwang Soo, rehashed the matter in a recent interview. She maintained that she had indeed been bullied, although she did not entirely absolve herself from fault. Hyoyoung’s post on November 11, 2024, claimed that while she regretted her actions, she had done so out of love for her sister. Back then, it was alleged that Hyoyoung had sent threatening messages to the younger T-ARA members on Hwayoung’s behalf.

[★BREAKING] Hyoyoung admits she threatened to “cut up Areum’s face”

Hello. This is actress Ryu Hyoyoung. First, I’m very sorry to have concerned so many people. I’m posting this in order to tell you about the text message issue I was involved in, in my younger sister’s bullying controversy.

We were around 20 years old then. We left our hometown for Seoul alone. We thought that there were no adults around us that we could rely on, and we could only rely on each other as sisters. In that situation, I heard shocking things from my sister. She claimed that she had been outcasted by the T-ARA members, and told me that ‘things were hard,’ and that she ‘missed me.’ I had tried to stop them from bullying my sister, resulting in my messages.

I do think that having sent the messages was rather foolish and immature of me, and still regret it to this day. I apologized to Areum for the messages I sent her previously, but I am still sorry.

But there was nothing I could do as a 20 year old. I was afraid that if I just let things be, my sister would make an extreme choice. It was the best I could do to protect my precious family member, as a young and insufficient person. I believe that everyone will know this too.

— Hyoyoung

Hyoyoung debuted under the same company as T-ARA through the group Five Dolls. The group later disbanded and she redirected her efforts into acting. You can read Hyoyoung’s recent response to the issue below.

Former T-ARA’s Hwayoung Blasts Former CEO After His Comments On The Infamous Bullying Scandal