Japan’s Kyaryy Pamyu Pamyu Tweets Then Deletes About T-ara

Japanese fashionista and singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has tweeted about T-ara and its controversy.

On July 30, the singer tweeted, “Outcasts are no good. Really low! They say the ones that are outcast have a problem too but that’s all a lie. The ones making others outcasts are 100%, 1000000000% bad! How much the tormented must be suffering… just reading the news makes my heart hurt.”

She added, “Though I’m not a group so I can’t be outcast, if I was together all the time with a group? I think I’d want to quit! I don’t think I would want to go.”

The singer also added her disappointment in T-ara saying, “I used to like T-ara but… I really don’t like this and I can’t understand. I really don’t like it.”

She later deleted the last tweet about T-ara.

T-Ara x Hwayoung: Aftermath

 

Core Contents Media, has shocked many fans and the like, by revealing that T-ara’s impending schedule will follow through as planned without any delays. A representative of Core Contents Media told OSEN news that T-ara will “resume as a seven-member unit without Hwayoung” and that “T-ara’s schedule will undergo no changes and will continue as planned.” “We planned the comeback just in time for the end of the Olympics,” states Kim Kwangsoo, “We wanted to carry the festive spirit of the Olympics into T-ara’s upcoming single.”
 ‘Sexy Love’ will be released on August 15th.

An SBS PD, after seeing the controversy unfold, defended Hwayoung by tweeting that he would no longer cast T-ara.
It seems as though the tweet was deleted shortly afterwards, however it sparked yet another round of controversy with fans now leaning towards Hwayoung being the victim of bullying and unfair treatment.
Due to this controversy, it’s been reported that T-ara is also facing issues with their upcoming concert, as all but 600 tickets to their concert were returned.

 

 The tweet and the Facebook comment have both been removed, but not before quick netizens made screen captures and spread it online, making the names of the producers reach number one on most searched.

 Netizens have discovered further evidence to prove the speculated rumors regarding Hwayoung being bullied to be true.

On November 6, 2011, a post titled, “Being an outcast.. Really is difficult and tiresome“, was uploaded onto Nate Pann, an online community forum, under the username ‘Suk Ryu’ (Ryu is Hwayoung’s last name).
Although the post has yet to be confirmed, netizens have speculated it to indeed be Hwayoung, as it well matched her current situation.
The message read:

Hello. I’ve been contemplating whether I should post this or not, but have decided to write a few things..
The group I’m in is… A group everybody will know just by revealing the group’s initial.
I’m a new member in the group, so it has been very awkward and because I’m also very timid, I’m unable to approach them easily… That’s one of the reasons why I’m becoming an outcast.
The original members must have strongly opposed my addition to the group…
I’m basically treated as if I’m an invisible at the dorm.
But when the cameras are rolling, they would suddenly have their arms around my shoulders.
When we’re practicing… I really feel like I’m going to die.
When I make a little mistake, I’d get criticized hearing things like, ‘You can’t even do this?’ and would get cursed at.
Even right now, I’m alone since they all went grocery shopping without me..
They’ll be back in a few hours, but I want to just forget about my singing career and leave.
However, this is the path I decided to take and I’m the one who decided to join, so it’s hard to do so.
I feel a bit better now that I’ve written this.
Thank you.

Criticisms have been rising for T-ara as more “evidence” is surfacing in regards to the bullying. In addition, a website titled T-Jinyo (“We Demand the Truth from T-ara”) was formed and is rapidly seeing an increase in members by the hour.

 

 

As previously reported, various fans and the like have been demanding that Eunjung be booted off from all broadcasts featuring the idol. Many comments were especially directed towards the idol’s segment in the variety show ‘We Got Married‘, and most recently, her role in the SBS drama ‘Five Fingers‘, set to debut its pilot episode in August.
However, chief producer Kang Shin Hyo has confirmed that no such thing will happen. “We have no plans of removing Ham Eunjung from this project,” states Kang, “None of the claims that have been brought up against T-ara and Eunjung have been proven to be true. We are not going to expell her from the production when nothing has been confirmed.”
“We didn’t cast all the members in T-ara,” continued Kang, “We casted Ham Eunjung and Eunjung only. The drama will air with Eunjung still a part of the cast.

T-Ara x Hwayoung Controversy

 

Over the weekend, T-ara has been the hot topic throughout the world of K-Pop, causing many fans to worry. Fans’ worst fears were then confirmed, when CCM (Core Contents Media) announced that Hwayoung would no longer be a part of T-ara. Let’s take a look at how this chaotic story came about.

Stage 1: The Plan

[7/25-26] T-ara‘s Budokan concert for ‘Jewelry Box‘ in Japan were treated to special unit performances from the girls. Held on July 25th and 26th, the members captivated the audience members with special individual and unit performances during the concerts. Eunjung, Jiyeon, and Hyomin put on a hip hop dance show to the tune of EXILE‘s “Choo Choo Train” while Soyeon let out her sexy side with a cover of Koda Kumi‘s “Cutie Honey“. Boram and Qri formed their own unit called ‘Unnis’ and showed off their adorable aegyo to AKB48‘s “Aitakatta“. Hwayoung was not able to perform throughout most of the concert due to a leg injury.

[7/25] Towards the beginning of the Budokan performance, Soyeon, Eunjung, Qri, Boram, Jiyeon, and Hyomin each greeted the fans one at a time, and afterwards Hwayoung came on stage with her crutches, and the fans encouraged her with their cheers. When the concert was nearly over, T-ara performed their hit song “Day By Day“, and finally Hwayoung appeared and performed her rap portion on stage on a chair.


After the concert, the T-ara members then posted a few tweets that netizens assumed was directed towards fellow member Hwayoung in a teasing manner, and the fans were shocked at the girls lashing out at Hwayoung and the fans are now questioning T-ara’s teamwork.

Gackt Tweets on Dokdo Grabs Attention

Ayumi and Gackt have been swept up in love rumors, and in the midst of the newfound attention, Gackt’s opinion on Dokdo has been dug up again.

On June 22, Japanese media outlets reported that Ayumi, or Iconiq in Japan, was dating the visual rock singer Gackt.

When the news hit Korea, many netizens became interested in Gackt himself. It has been revealed that he boasts close ties with Korea, as he was once wed to a Korean.

A previous statement he made on Twitter especially drew much interest. On March 30, 2011, Gackt retweeted a tweet reading ‘Dokdo is Korean territory!’ His actions caused him to receive many threats from rightist groups in Japan.

He didn’t let up, however, and continued to post texts that showed his favorable views toward Korea. His relationship with Ayumi, who is a Korean resident in Japan, again proved his views.

Ayumi once said in an interview in April, “I like someone. It’s a crush. I haven’t told him.”

Pledis Entertainment's 2012 Plan

   Despite some minor (okay, pretty major) complaints about the company, Pledis Entertainment is still a fairly formidable force in K-pop. Sure they may have a bit trouble in execution, but they know how to build hype, leading to impressive comebacks and relevant debuts. I was thoroughly impressed with most of After School‘s comebacks, and NU’EST‘s debut was handled pretty well. Sure, Pledis indulges in a lot of gimmicks, (the tap dancing, the graduation system, Ren‘s entire image, etc.) but those gimmicks still manage to get attention and stand out, something important in the vastness K-pop has become. But as savvy Pledis is when it comes to building hype, I don’t know how they (or any other company for that matter) can handle what they brought upon themselves.
Pledis has just officially announced another group-in-the-making named Seventeen, which will consist of 17 members with the average age of 17. 
  Before I point out the major problems that group is going to go through in the near future, I want to mention that Pledis has also officially announced the debut of After School’s sister group Hello Venus, as well as the (possible) debut of another boy group, Tempest, which will feature the remaining Pledis Boys not included in NU’EST. Tempest’s debut as a separate group is still iffy as it is widely suspected that the Tempest boys will instead join the roster of Seventeen (more on that later). So, in all, Pledis will have to handle two or three debuts during th remainder of the year (a total of three or four year-round), along with After School’s Japanese promotions and whatever they want to do with NU’EST (Sadly, Son Dambi moved her comeback to mid June). Pledis sure is reaching a bit too high in the sky with their current schedule, and there are definitely reasons why.