Former Apink Member Hong Yukyung Confesses She Didn’t Actually Want To Quit Being An Idol
Former Apink member and current fashion designer, Hong Yukyung recently appeared on the YouTube channel, Allympic. During the show, she opened up about how she really felt when she left the entertainment industry 8 years ago.
On the show, Hong Yukyung expressed her longing for the industry as well as the group. She debuted with Apink in 2011 but withdrew back in 2013. The agency explained that she left in order to pursue her studies.
I’m still cheering on Apink. I memorize all of their choreography.
— Hong Yukyung
And when she was asked if she left the entertainment industry because she didn’t like it anymore, Hong Yukyung stressed that she was desperate to be an idol.
I was more desperate than anyone. I had one of the longest training periods among the members. I worked really hard to debut. I even dreamt about it a few days ago. I miss that life.
— Hong Yukyung
It turns out Hong Yukyung was offered a position in another girl group after withdrawing from Apink. But Hong Yukyung turned it down, and she finally explained why.
I was worried re-debuting would harm Apink. I wanted to go for it again. I think I was dreaming. I was worried that if I joined another group, I’d never be able to rejoin Apink.
— Hong Yukyung
So Hong Yukyung worked hard towards her new career out of consideration for Apink.
That’s why I wanted to succeed. I wanted to succeed and cheer on Apink with a pure heart. I also wanted to succeed so that I could rejoin them one day.
— Hong Yukyung
Yukyung’s claims of wanting to rejoin the group seemed to align with a statement her father made back when Apink’s agency announced her departure.
At the time, Hong Yukyung’s father claimed that the agency one-sidedly kicked his daughter out through a notice that she received one month prior. Apink’s agency never responded to these claims, and speculations were never fully resolved.
Listen to Yukyung’s side of the story in the full interview below:
