The sentencing hearing for Areum was held at the Ansan Court (Judge Yoon Sang-do) on January 17. The court sentenced Areum to 8 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered her to complete 40 hours of child abuse prevention classes.
Areum was accused of verbally abusing her ex-husband “A” in front of their children. She was also accused of defaming “C”, who had revealed a court ruling involving her boyfriend “B”, in an Internet broadcast.
The Court stated: “The defendant admitted the child abuse charges. Inflicting significant psychological harm on children’s legal guardian is a serious matter that deserves to be condemned.” Regarding the defamation charges, the Court stated: “Although the defendant claims that she had no intention of defaming “C”, her statements, such as that the court’s ruling was fabricated, were made without any effort to verify the facts and are believed to be unwise. We find that there was intentional negligence. Considering the context of the broadcast, his relationship with the victim and the nature of his statements, the intent to defame is recognized.”
Areum’s mother, also accused of child abuse, received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for one year. She was accused of neglecting the situation by allowing her grandchildren to remain in an environment where Areum verbally abused “A” at her residence between 2021 and 2022.
Areum joined T-ara as a member in 2012 but left the group after just a year. She married an older businessman, “A”, in 2019 and had two children. However, the couple began divorce proceedings in 2023, during which Areum revealed his relationship with “B”, sparking controversy.
Areum alleged that “A” had abused their children and subjected her to domestic violence during her marriage. However, police investigations found no evidence to support the child abuse allegations against “A”.
Subsequently, Areum and “B” were accused of borrowing approximately KRW 37 million from fans and acquaintances and failing to repay the amount. In August last year, Areum was charged without detention over the charges. However, he stated, “A hacker committed the deed and I never borrowed the money.”
Currently, Areum has given birth to her third child with a “B” and is pregnant with a fourth.
