Hwayoung is known for her roles as an actress, model, and former member of the once-popular girl group T-ara. With her charming appearance and exceptional musical talent, she joined MBK Entertainment’s girl group, helping spread the “Halyu wave” across Asia.
Shortly after, Hwayoung accused her T-ara members of bullying, which quickly tarnished the group’s previously positive image. Netizens sympathized with her and called for a long-term boycott of T-ara.
After leaving the group and finishing her contract with her previous company, Hwayoung transitioned into acting and quickly found success. She has consistently appeared in both film and television projects.
Just when it seemed the bullying scandal with T-ara had faded, evidence emerged accusing Hwayoung of lying about the bullying, displaying diva-like behavior and faking injuries to gain public sympathy. At this point, the public turned against Hwayoung, leading her to temporarily step away from the entertainment industry.
Biography
- Full Name: Ryu Hwa Young (류화영)
- Date of birth: 22 April 1993
- Nationality: South Korean
- Education: Kyung Hee University
- Occupation: actress, singer
- Sister: Ryu Hyo Young
- Years of activity: 2014 – Present
- Management Company: Never Die Entertainment
- Instagram: ryu.hyoung
Hwayoung’s musical career as a new member of T-ara
If you’re familiar with Korean music or culture, you’ll recognize the name T-ara. This girl group from Core Contents Media debuted in 2009 and quickly became a leader in the Hallyu wave alongside DBSK, BIG BANG, SNSD and 2NE1.
T-ara’s original lineup included Jiwon, Hyomin, Jiae, Jiyeon, and Eunjung, who was the leader. However, after two months, Jiwon and Jiae left the group due to personal reasons.
Not long after, Kim Kwang Soo, the president of Core Contents Media, added Soyeon, Boram and Qri to the group, marking a fresh breeze in K-pop with a non-permanent member model.
Upon debut, the six girls released a series of hits such as “Lie”, “Time to Love” and “Bo Peep Bo Peep”, which earned T-ara numerous music show trophies, rookie awards and expanded her their popularity throughout Asia.
In late 2010, Hwayoung was added as the group’s rapper. Known as Ryu Hwayoung, she was born in 1993 in Gwangju, South Korea, with a twin sister, Hyoyoung, who is also in the entertainment industry.
From this point, T-ara’s career saw significant changes, with the leadership role shifting from Eunjung to Boram. In mid-2011, the group released “Roly Poly”, created by hitmaker Shinsadong Tiger.
The song quickly spread to over seventy countries, generating millions in revenue, and Hwayoung was warmly welcomed by the public.
Subsequently, T-ara won several prestigious music awards, including Gaon Chart Kpop Awards and Melon Music Awards.
Building on their success, the seven girls from Core Contents Media have focused on operations in Japan, the second largest music market in the world. T-ara’s musical talent and amazing choreography made them the first girl group to reach number one on the Oricon charts.
These girls gradually became beloved idols in Japan. After wrapping up promotions for “Roly Poly”, Hyomin replaced Boram as leader and led T-ara to new heights both at home and abroad.
In 2011, the CEO of Core Contents Media invested KRW one billion in a major music project, “Cry Cry”, for his “precious artists”. T-ara’s return combined acting and music, setting new trends.
“Cry Cry,” a 30-minute music video, was meticulously crafted in terms of music quality, plot, and popular guest stars such as Ji Chang Wook and Cha Seung Won. The song brought weekly trophies and made waves in several countries.
Not long after, in early 2012, “Lovey Dovey” was released. It was a huge success, continuing the “Cry Cry” story with over twenty minutes of footage. Hwayoung showed off her charm in a bold and edgy transformation.
With their fresh and energetic songs, T-ara have become an essential part of K-pop. At its peak, Kim Kwang Soo’s girl group was even seen as a formidable contender for “national girl group” status against Girls’ Generation.
The shocking bullying scandal
In early 2012, Core Contents Media announced the addition of two new members, Areum and Dani. Fans expressed strong opposition to this decision.
Korean media commented that MBK’s CEO was overly ambitious, wanting T-ara to replicate the success of SM Entertainment’s SNSD. However, this ambition was a “double-edged sword” that threatened T-ara’s career.
In July 2012, T-ara released “Day by Day,” which marks Areum’s debut as an official member and Dani’s participation as an actress.
It seemed like this release would take T-ara to new heights, but it was the start of the infamous bullying scandal, sending the careers of the hitmakers behind “Roly Poly” into a tailspin.
The incident began during a performance in Japan, where Hwayoung sat out of the choreography due to an injury. Subsequently, T-ara’s members posted cryptic messages about her on social media.
The controversy exploded, with Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung’s responses sparking public opinion and rumors of internal discord.
Netizens circulated alleged “evidence” of T-ara members mistreating Hwayoung, cut from reality shows. Under public pressure, Core Contents Media terminated Hwayoung’s contract.
CEO Kwang Soo revealed that Hwayoung left due to staff complaints rather than bullying, and members’ social media posts were not targeted at her. However, this only fueled the negative reaction.
Fans turned against T-ara, even becoming anti-fans. Within days, brand partnerships were canceled and fines soared. T-ara’s videos received harsh comments, while MBK’s headquarters was vandalized.
The Ryu sisters’ social media jabs at T-ara and Hwayoung’s vulnerable appearance on television have intensified the hatred against T-ara. This has been a nightmare for the girls, who face discrimination from broadcasters, media and viewers; some even issued “ultimatums” to T-ara.
Although T-ara made efforts to reclaim their reputation, they failed to regain the public’s trust. Songs like “Number 9”, “Sexy Love” and “Little Apple” failed to pull them out of decline.
Hwayoung and the truths revealed
In early 2017, Boram and Soyeon left Core Contents Media and T-ara continued with four members. The bullying scandal seemed forgotten until Hwayoung and Hyoyoung revisited it on TvN’s “Talk Show Taxi.”
The Ryu sisters in TvN’s “Taxi”.
Hwayoung tearfully shared how her sister supported her after she left, dealing with emotional trauma. After the broadcast, an anonymous former T-ara staff member shared an account online, exposing both the Ryu sisters and T-ara’s innocence.
The post was widely shared on forums, revealing that while T-ara wasn’t entirely innocent, the Ryu sisters had serious problems. A screenshot was also posted that allegedly showed Hyoyoung threatening Areum to reveal the truth. Areum hinted at his authenticity on Instagram.
Regarding the “injury” during the show in Japan, the former staff member said that Hwayoung was unharmed but wanted to be transported and use crutches in solidarity with the media. During the Japanese promotions, Hwayoung allegedly insisted on resting despite feeling well, even visiting a beauty salon. Former staff criticized Hwayoung’s diva-like behavior and her difficult attitude towards assistants. The president of MBK also admitted his regret over the scandal, saying that the main problem was the attitude of the Ryu sisters.
The public began to clear T-ara’s name, realizing that there was no evidence of bullying on Hwayoung. Eventually, T-ara’s name was cleared, although they failed to reach their previous peak. The Ryu sisters were widely boycotted and nicknamed “snakes”.
The duo received backlash for event appearances, and Hwayoung’s roles in the films were heavily affected, with some directors reducing or cutting her scenes entirely.
Some successes as an actress
Although the truth behind the bullying scandal has been revealed, leading to Hwayoung being shunned by the public, her career in the entertainment industry still boasts some noteworthy accomplishments.
After leaving MBK in 2013, Hwayoung chose not to pursue music but instead ventured into acting, fulfilling her initial aspirations. He signed with Wellmade STAR M, which managed famous actors such as Lee Jong Suk, Ha Ji Won and Oh Yeon Seo.
Hwayoung on the red carpet.
In January 2014, Hwayoung starred as the female lead in singer Zia’s music video for “Have You Ever Cried”. Shortly after, she made her acting debut in the short drama Mother’s choicedirected by Ji Geun II.
At the beginning of 2015 he returned to the small screen, taking on the leading role Ok Family. This comedy, about a family suspected of stealing artifacts from the Jeonju Museum, received moderate critical acclaim.
Continuing her active career as an actress, Hwayoung played the role of actor Byun Yo Han’s “ex-girlfriend” in Ex-girlfriends club. Her fresh and natural acting style and resemblance to actress Park Shin Hye led to many other film offers at the time.
In 2016, Hwayoung continued with a role in SBS I’m coming back, sirstarring alongside stars like Bi Rain, Lee Min Jung and Honey Lee. She also appeared in a supporting role on JTBC Youth age.
2017 was perhaps the most successful year of her career, as she was given her first leading role Crazy Dog on KBS. Here, Hwayoung played a former athlete who works for a special investigation team. His captivating and bold character attracted a large audience.
Also in 2017, before the truth about her past scandal with T-ara emerged, Hwayoung appeared on several other shows, including The father is strange AND Traces of hand.
While the previous scandal caused her significant backlash from netizens, with calls to boycott her films, it did not completely derail her career. Thanks to his success in Crazy DogHwayoung won the Best New Actress award at the 31st KBS Drama Awards.
In the fall of 2022, Hwayoung starred in her first major film role in It exists inside. The film follows an ambitious writer who lives in the same building as a mysterious man.
Despite the controversies surrounding her, Hwayoung’s career has remained relatively unaffected. He calmly ignored the criticism, continuing to pursue his artistic endeavors.
In the highly competitive film industry, combined with a tainted personal life, Hwayoung faced many challenges in securing roles that would solidify her position in the entertainment world.
