Kim Kwang Soo makes vague press release, proceeds to use the JYP excuse, then threatens Hwayoung

As reported earlier, T-ara‘s Hwayoung will be leaving the group, according to Core Contents Media CEO Kim Kwang Soo.

Why? Surely because it’s related to the recent bullying controversy, right? Nah, nah, nah.

KKS says it’s because of … uh … T-ara’s staff.

T-ara‘s parent company Core Contents Media announced today that one of its members, Hwayoung, will be leaving the group.

CCM’s CEO, Kim Kwang Soo, announced the departure in a press release written by the president himself. “In deference to the complaints by T-ara’s staff of 19 people (5 stylists, 7 hair & makeup, 5 on-site managers, 2 team managers), Hwayoung’s contract as an artist will be voided effective immediately with no conditions.”

Kim Kwang Soo denied any correlation with the recent controversy that erupted following tweets from the T-ara members that were interpreted by many as one-sided bullying against Hwayoung. “We wish to impress upon the fact that this has nothing to do with the ‘bullying’ reports surrounding T-ara,” CCM said. “Although the staff of Core Contents Media stayed up into early morning discussing with the T-ara members who all wanted to stay with Hwayoung, we apologize in saying that we could not forsake the arguments of the staff members.”

“We deeply apologize for the many incidents which made everyone who loved T-ara nervous and worried, and we have nothing but sadness to convey such an unsettling incident on their third anniverary. We also apologize again to the T-ara members and wish Hwayoung all the best as a powerful rapper,” CCM continued, “since Hwayoung has great potential as a rapper we decided to end her contract without conditions and we believe that she will grow into the future as a free artist.”

So basically, KKS is blaming the fact that Hwayoung is leaving on the complaints of T-ara’s staff, then he’s denying that it had anything to do with the T-ara members.

It’s fucking weird, because initially CCM said that all of their Twitter accounts were hacked, thus verifying that the tweets were indeed attacks on Hwayoung. So their excuse at the time was that the members would never say such things about her. However, now KKS is basically admitting that the tweets were real but is then saying they had nothing to do with the decision to kick Hwayoung out.

WAT

—–

Well, I think a lot of people were confused, so KKS sent out a press release that was supposed to clarify shit for people … but it only made things WORSE, in my opinion.

As T-ara lives their lives together, I feel that if someone places her/himself above the rest and rocks the boat, the overall stability of the team falters.

I wish to emphasize the fact that the ‘bullying’ reports surrounding T-ara have no basis in truth.

Okay, but I want details. What is this about then?

Clarify shit, motherfucker.

Early after their debut, T-ara went through many reports of several members being bullied (such as Eunjung, Soyeon, or Boram) but that was simply childish jealousy which did not pass two days, and they soon grew closer together.

I DON’T WANT TO KNOW THEIR FUCKING GROUP HISTORY

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS SITUATION

During the recent concert, a total of 230 staff members moved together. The difference in ‘determination’ that the T-ara members have talked about did not mean whether or not the members could stand on stage.

If someone becomes lazy, or self-centered, and thinks only of oneself, that performance has no reprieve but to suffer flaws, and that kind of stage shines only on the outside. On the inside exists only a shallow longing to ‘show’ something. That is what ‘determination’ means – determination for the stars and the staff members alike.

What the FUCK is he saying? Did he just seriously try to redefine what “determination” means? That’s not a rhetorical question either, I’m seriously asking because KKS is speaking in tongues in that quote.

The most important thing for the staff members and the artists is their health. Only if their body is healthy can they put on a good performance.

Eunjung tore her ligament when she fell on an icy road, and Jiyeon injured her leg during drama filming. She also broke her nose during the Osaka concert when she bumped into a lighting tower, requesting emergency surgery and took the stage afterwards, notwithstanding disagreements with the concert and company managers. She went through full treatment, lasting three days, after her return to Korea.

Hwayoung’s leg injury and her subsequent absence for the concert was for the protection of the star. Although she wanted to stand on stage, all the staff and T-ara members argued against her and she eventually took the stage only for her “Day by Day” performance, as per her wishes.

Therefore, the ‘determination’ that T-ara was talking about was not about standing on stage or otherwise.

WHAT

Why do I need their injury history? How the hell does any of this shit connect with the issue at hand?

Now you’re talking about redefining the word “determination”? Motherfucker, you have lost the plot.

Seriously though CCM, fire your PR people and hire me or something. Holy shit.

Despite poor salary, countless staff members and managers are working hard behind the stars. Driving while missing out on sleep, being on alert 24 hours a day, checking their makeup behind the stage, the staff work hard because they all have the common goal of creating the rise of the next top-level star.

Most staff members, including the on-site manager, are living in either small homes or in dormitories with 3-7 other people. If those people feel sadness due to a certain celebrity, or decide to seek another path because they feel that what they’re doing isn’t right, then the T-ara who gives happiness and joy to many people are nothing more than facades in front of the audience.

Seriously, what does any of this have to do with the decision?

It’s like he’s saying, “Yeah, T-ara and the staff fucked everything up horribly, but you should feel sorry for them because they work so hard and shit!”

It just screams guilty to me.

Because the eight members of T-ara put teamwork ahead of their selves, they respected the decision of the 19 staff members. Because there couldn’t be any more staff members going through such pain, this decision was made after much debate.

I also thought for a long time whether or not this was the right path, and know that it hurts akin to cutting out one’s own flesh. However, I made the decision based on T-ara’s future and continued existence, and together with the staff we sat up until 7 AM this morning convincing the T-ara members.

Again, I stress that there was no bullying taking place between the T-ara members and Hwayoung and all such reports are without truth.

Earlier, I mentioned during T-ara’s switch from 7 to 9 members that the possibility of member changes existed for those who did not work hard enough or inflicted damage upon other members.

If T-ara becomes lazy or puts themselves first, then the group will become empty on the inside. Therefore, the first priority would be humility, basic manners, and their character.

That is the only way I feel T-ara will continue to become a true Hallyu idol.

Since Hwayoung has much promise as a rapper, Core Contents Media has decided to end her contract without conditions and believe that she will grow into the future as a free artist.

We deeply apologize for the many incidents which made everyone who loved T-ara nervous and worried, and we have nothing but sadness to convey such an unsettling incident on their third anniverary.

Although we, the staff of Core Contents Media, stayed up into early morning discussing with the T-ara members who all wanted to stay with Hwayoung, we apologize to the members in saying that we could not forsake the arguments of the staff members.

Lastly, we again express our sadness to the T-ara members and wish for the best to Hwayoung and her successful rapping career.

So basically, KKS clarified absolutely nothing with this press release. In fact, I think he only made things more confusing. Worse yet, he tore to shreds any benefit of the doubt that the members of T-ara may have had in these matters.

The complete and active avoidance of the actual scandal that everybody wants to hear about just looks horribly bad for him.

—–

You get the sense that KKS understood that people weren’t buying the shit he was trying to shovel, so he gave an interview soon after and went hard in the fucking paint.

The press release is a bit vague. It seems to have actually inflated the controversy.

I can’t reveal everything. It’s the least amount of courtesy for the departing member. Please think carefully about who will be hurt if the truth is revealed.

Holy shit, I was just saying on Twitter prior to this being released that KKS should have went with the JYP/2PM defense for exiling a member … and he actually did it. Too bad it was only after he already fucked it up, thus making the strategy null and void.

There were reports of bullying. Are the fights between the members a big reason in the departure?

No. The relationship between the members are not a big problem. In fact, once you take control of a team, small problems can erupt. The bigger problem is the hardships faced by the staff members.

Dude, come on.

The problems with the staff was also in the official press release. What kind of problems existed?

I don’t want to go into detail, nor do I want to make personal attacks. But the staff were very tired after driving for the entire night and taking care of hair and makeup. There were several managers who cried, saying they wanted to quit. Although the artists are important, I believe that the sweat and tears of the staff are equally as important. I could not stand by watching this destruction of teamwork any longer.

*Whisper*

JYP

*Whisper*

If you go into a little more detail, would that not quell the controversy?

There were so many issues, but I really do not want to shed light on any of them, so I am keeping quiet. There were many examples of yelling at the members and breaking down the teamwork. How would the T-ara members feel, who had trained for over three years? I hope this issue is not inflated any further, (Hwayoung) I hope you stay quiet.

…진실없는 사실들

— 류화영 (@RHY422) July 30, 2012

………………

— 류효영 (@Rhy93) July 30, 2012

Yes, you read that correctly. In an interview with a journalist, Kim Kwang Soo just publicly threatened Hwayoung. Goddamn, son.

Well, you have to give him credit. He creates epic drama for everybody and then keeps it really real, yo. Too bad this is looking more like an episode of “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong” than anything else.

—–

I don’t mean to put this all on Kim Kwang Soo, as the members of T-ara are surely to blame as well, but my point is that the entire environment that KKS created through his managing style with T-ara was the true catalyst in this entire clusterfuck.

Honestly? A ton of people already assumed something along these lines was bound to happen, it’s just that they thought it would be a TVXQ/Kara type of situation where the girls sue KKS for their freedom.

—–

I came into this situation with an open mind, those of you following me on Twitter can attest to that. I felt as though there were a variety of plausible scenarios that could have resulted in the other T-ara members resenting Hwayoung or tweeting what they did.

So what did Kim Kwang Soo do? He fucking immediately torpedoed all existing plausible deniability for the members and completely fucked his only successful group.

GENIUS!

When you think about it, his comments were completely illogical. There is ZERO chance that a company keeps a bunch of staff members over a talent. It would be the equivalent of a sports team getting rid of a valuable player because of a goddamn trainer or something.

Make no mistake about it: T-ara is FUCKED.

So congratulations to Kim Kwang Soo for completely killing the popularity of his only relevant group.