On November 8, MBN’s variety show “Let’s Go” season 3 pre-released part of its upcoming episode online, titled “Entertainment Company CEO Kim Kwang-soo Reveals the Truth Behind T-‘s Incident ara that shook the nation.” Known for discovering stars such as Lee Mi-yeon, Jo Sung-mo, Davichi and T-ara, Kim Kwang-soo, the “Midas touch” of the entertainment industry, has made his appearance, grabbing attention of spectators.
The controversy dates back to 2012, when rumors of disagreements between T-ara members and Hwayoung surfaced. In response, Kim Kwang-soo made the drastic decision to remove Hwayoung from the group, sparking the infamous “bullying scandal.” Reflecting on that period, Kim Kwang-soo revealed, “I was furious. We decided to make an important announcement, I had Hwayoung and Hyoyoung’s contracts brought to me which I then tore up. I told them: ‘Leave without any conditions’.”
At the time, Kim Kwang-soo publicly stated that the decision to terminate Hwayoung’s contract was based on feedback from 19 members of T-ara’s support staff, including stylists, hair and makeup artists, and managers, who had expressed concerns. Despite stressing that there was no truth to the “bullying” rumors, public suspicion intensified, leading to a backlash against both Kim Kwang-soo and the remaining members of T-ara.
Recalling the incident, Kim Kwang-soo shared, “Rumours about bullying spread like wildfire. The parents of T-ara members even suggested holding a press conference to reveal everything, including the text messages, but I was worried about the future of the other members. So I moved forward, despite the negative reactions, because I believed that the members had done nothing wrong.”
Kim Kwang-soo went on to say that he was willing to endure criticism to protect T-ara’s future, “I could take the blame, but if the members stopped there, they would never resume their careers. I told them, “I’ll handle the negative reaction; you move on.” He admitted, however, that that ordeal brought a huge crisis to his life, one that may persist today.
When host Hong Hyun-hee asked him if he regretted his decision, Kim Kwang-soo became emotional, “T-ara members sometimes come to visit me on my birthday. I always end up crying, feeling sorry. I wish I had held back a little then. People around me advised me not to publish any articles, but I didn’t listen. I really feel sorry for the girls.”
This episode will air on November 9 at 8:20 pm (KST).
Source: Daum
