FreakyFlyBri

With all the strife and controversy surrounding the girls and the member additions, it was nice to get a reminder as to why I love these girls so much. Their performances highlighted what I enjoy most about them and their music: they were fun! And I agree with you guys, Qri looked like a goddess with that hair. To be honest everyone looked great. From here on out I'm just going to keep reminding myself that ultimately, no matter what, I'm here for these seven girls, and I'll support them no matter what. It's easy to say that they must be miserable because of their hectic work schedules, and I still believe that they are severely overworked, but seeing performances like this, where the girls looked fresh and seemed like they were having a good time, give me hope that the reason they're still doing this is because they do love it, and they want to be on stage performing. T-ara fighting!!!

Yep, that's exactly what I was thinking. CCM did the same thing with T-ara on their debut; supposedly the girls got a million different offers for CFs and the like before even officially debuting. It's just a publicity stunt, it makes the girls look like they're in high demand. Had it been the real deal then we would know the name of the cosmetics company who was offering up such a huge chunk of change to a relative unknown.

YOU'RE the one who needs to do your research, dude...KARA'S Winter Magic sold nearly 80K on its debut week and went on to sell another 45K throughout its chart run. It's NOT the same thing as T-ara selling 20K on debut week and dropping off the charts shortly thereafter. This is not a massive success. There are tons of artists in Japan whose lead off singles sell decently before their albums drop. True, there's not much of a gap between the single and album releases, but let's just call a spade a spade here...Lovey Dovey is underperforming. It's not a jab at the girls by any means, but just the way it is. I owe it more to the fact that it's another remake as opposed to one of the original songs (Keep Out or T-aratic Magic Music).

Don't get your panties in a bunch, dude. The point is to sell whatever the artist releases, be it single or album, so that nullifies your claim that singles sales aren't important. If they weren't then they wouldn't be so insanely expensive. Plus single sales can be a good barometer of how well an album will sell on release, so yeah, single sales are kind of important, otherwise they wouldn't release three or four singles before releasing the album. And please don't lecture me on how album and single sales work in Japan, I'm pretty sure I've got a handle on it. And no, 20,000 is not that great for this kind of release.

It's at number 27 on the daily chart, so it took a pretty big tumble from yesterday, but a bunch of new singles just came out and T-ara's never been very good at maintaining longevity on the singles chart in Japan. At this rate it'll be amazing if it can sell 40k.

Ha, I must admit I'm still relatively new to K-Pop...I got into it after I discovered BoA in 2009 and began following T-ara the same year. They're the one group I've really stuck by since discovering K-Pop. One reason I don't say very much is because I feel a certain level of disconnect from other fans due to the age difference, so I generally keep to myself or post at The Prophet Blog since there are several people around my age with my sensibilities that post there as well. As far as what you said about AKF, I agree that a lot of what AKF himself talks about is on-point and hilarious, but it puts me off that I have to wade through all of the fapping jokes, misogynistic comments, and the rank smell of bullsh!t just to find it. Plus some of the new contributors are downright wankers. Lol As far as what makes me a T-ara fan, I admit that I'm a gay man, so their looks really aren't the reason I enjoy them (although I must admit I've always found them to be one of the prettiest groups in K-Pop; even "ugly" members like Bo Ram and Hwayoung are lovely in my opinion)...I think they put out some of the best pop music in the world right now, while their concepts and style/image is some of the most unique I've seen from a pop act in years. T-ara doesn't xxxx foot around; they go hard and take it all the way. It doesn't work all the time, but I commend them for making the effort and trying out new things. They go out of their comfort zones, and I like that. My biggest gripe with Dani's addition (besides just feeling strange listening to a prepubescent girl's music) is that I believe she's going to limit T-ara's plasticity when it comes to concepts and sounds. They aren't going to be able to do concepts like sexy or adult without it feeling strange and forced, meaning stuff like "Cry Cry" and IGCBOY won't fit them anymore. Furthermore, I actually just read that she's still 13, meaning she hasn't even turned 14 yet, meaning she still very well could limit T-ara's ability to promote on music shows. The jury's still out on whether or not that's a blessing in disguise, as it could mean that T-ara will just perform without her or they won't perform at all (and I'm guessing it won't be the latter). Ultimately my position is that T-ara would be a million times better off if they broke ranks and left CCM; hell, JYPE needs a girl group that can move albums, I'm sure they'd be happy to have them. YGE would be a great fit as T-ara could help them diversify their image beyond edgy, hip-hop groups. Just stay away from SME as I have a feeling they'd bury T-ara to prevent them from becoming any more of a threat to SNSD. They seem to do that with their groups. I'd also avoid Pledis since they'd probably encourage the admission/graduation system and stay the HELL away from DSP because of what they did to KARA.

Like I said, I meant no offense, and I appreciate your levelheaded reply, which alone tells me that you've got a better head on your shoulders than 99% of most K-Pop fans. Lol. As far as what I read on AKFG goes, I just have a really low opinion of that site as it seems run primarily by a bunch of young men trying their hardest to divert attention away from their latent homosexual tendencies by making crude and obnoxious comments about women (not anything I read by you, just by the majority of the people I see posting there). So I may have been a bit biased in my assumptions there, lol. As far as what comprises a "true" fan of T-ara...that was my gaffe. I'm one of those people that believe that being a fan of a group is something that's different for each person, so questioning your dedication as a fan was wrong. I apologize. It's just so sad to see the fanbase being torn apart like this...it really felt like we were starting to come together as a group after Lovey-Dovey dropped. We had a lot to be proud of, we all seemed to have the same ideals regarding what the girls needed (a break), and now it just seems like no one can agree on anything. It's like KKS is trying to obliterate the group and its existing fanbase from the ground up and start completely from scratch. I had finally come to terms with the member additions before learning that one of them was 14. As a 28 year-old man from the U.S.A. I know that I personally feel strange about listening to music made by a tween. I like T-ara for members like Boram, Qri, and Soyeon, who are a bit older than the average idol and bring a bit of maturity to the group; for some reason I can't shake the feeling that Dani was added to the group for similar reasons to Hwayoung, to lower the group's average age, because I KNOW it can't be to connect with their Anglo fans. Right now they're the ones that have the biggest issue with the addition and will probably be the ones withdrawing their support for the girls first. *Sigh*

No offense dude, but it's hard to take anything you say seriously anymore. When you're not running around spreading conspiracy theories you're badmouthing other members like Jiyeon and calling for her to be kicked out of the group while speculating that the older members will be forced out to make room for the new members. While to a certain extent I agree with some of the points you've made, you're almost extremist in some of your beliefs. I've also seen you on sites like AKPF laughing it up about how crap some of the members are and joking around with people who claim to despise T-ara; at this point you don't even sound like a real fan of the girls but someone who simply hates KKS. It's kind of hypocritical. I'm going to simply reiterate what I said a few months back: at this point, we don't know anything concrete so speculating that members will be kicked out is just that: speculation, and nothing more. Furthermore, while I'm not thrilled about a 14 year-old joining the group, T-ara (and any other K-Pop group for that matter) are marketed towards Koreans first and foremost, so the only thing that's probably irking fans right now are the additions, not the member's ages. As people have already said, several idols have debuted around the same age, and the reason Dani will probably debut in December is so she can turn 15 and promote alongside the rest of the group without hindering their schedules. Do not take this as me giving a stamp of approval for KKS's antics or the ridiculous member additions...I simply want to know if you're even a fan of the group at this point as you seem to be more interested in KKS than anything. It's unsettling to see some of the things you say here in contrast to some of the comments you make on other sites. As for me, I'm more worried about whether or not T-ara will survive this massive restructuring. This whole ordeal runs the risk of alienating T-ara's existing fanbase, who loves T-ara for the music, image, and members that currently comprise the lineup. Like you said, "If it ain't' broke, don't fix it," and I'm just not sure whether T-ara will survive it.

I have to agree with you...you guys are being closeminded and immature. It's a HUGE coup for T-ara/CCM to have nabbed Jonte to do choreo for the girls, and all I'm hearing is how effeminate he is while people snicker about the fact that he doesn't wear pants or he wears heels. Yeah, he's a big queen, but instead of focusing on that you guys should be focusing more on the quality of work he's doing for T-ara. CCM is obviously shooting for global awareness with this comeback as they seem to be pulling out all the stops this time around, I think that deserves mention more than Jonte's homosexuality.

I don't think having an English speaking member is necessary either (nor did I ever mention that it was in my post); I was just speculating on reasons why CCM may have decided to add an English-speaking member into the group. I've also heard reports that the new member(s) could also be Chinese or Japanese, to help T-ara get a leg up in those territories as well. It's simply speculation at this point. As far as T-ara breaking into the states goes, I doubt that would ever happen; if the new member did speak English, it would just aid them in gaining more of an international fanbase, as T-ara's international fandom is still relatively small in comparison to other Korean girl groups. I'm sure Core Contents Media is aware of K-Pop's growing presence on the global music scene, no matter how niche the market is right now; they probably just want a piece of the pie like anyone else. Like I said earlier, at this point it's all speculation as to what ethnicity the new members are. By the way, do you have any idea what kind of music is played on American radios? People autotune the crap out of their songs here. A lot of T-ara's songs could probably be hits in the hand of a western artist, so I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are completely out of touch with American radio; I'd even go so far to say that, besides 2NE1, a lot of their music is probably the MOST American-friendly (Lovey-Dovey, I Go Crazy Because Of You, Like The First Time). Obviously songs like Bo Peep Bo Peep and Roly-Poly would raise some eyebrows due to their ridiculous titles but even barring that the production on those songs is more akin to what you may hear on a U.S. radio station than a lot of other K-Pop songs I've heard. Still, it's a moot point as I doubt that CCM has any plans to debut T-ara in the U.S. They simply don't have the kind of monetary backing to make something like that happen.

I actually think that if the new member does speak fluent English then that may be just the reason she was added into the group: to allow T-ara to have more of a connection with their international fans. I've started to wonder if KKS's claims that he wants to take T-ara to the next level includes something on more of an international scale...she's obviously not just there to eliminate the girl's "Ingrish" problem, makes you wonder what KKS actually has up his sleeve for them. For what it's worth I just hope the girls stay in Asia, I really don't want them pulling a 2NE1/SNSD/WG and trying to go global. It's too risky and T-ara isn't half as well-known as some of the other Korean girl groups are. At this point I'd be happy if they could just have a good night's sleep, lol. As far as the "interview" goes, it's a great way for T-ara to get some attention for their upcoming comeback, CCM is obviously pulling out all the stops for them this time around. They really landed a coup by nabbing Jonte; now if they could just address those pesky rumors that one of the new members is 14.

This is Ttoma: http://img.alibaba.com/wsphoto/v0/498131164/free-shipping-N7-TTOMA-PEN-Korean-cute-cat-Korea-stationery-plastic-shell-automatic-pencil.jpg From what I know he's not so much a cartoon character as he is a brand. He's on practically everything, from pencils to vacuum cleaners...he even has his own radio show and cafe in Korea. But as far as him being internationally known, I dunno about that. This partnership makes more sense, though, when you realize that that Ttoma is a brand and has already been used to endorse practically everything under the sun already.

Yeah, I agree, to be honest I'm amazed it's forecasted to debut in the top ten as I think it's their weakest Japanese release yet. I would've loved for them to take a chance and promote Keep Out instead, as I'm dying to hear what it sounds like. On the other hand, that performance on GIRLS' FACTORY was really good (in my opinion, anyways). Kudos to them for not lipping the entire thing. They are promoting a lot more in Japan between LD and RP though, and it's possible that it could do better than forecasted. Only a few more days to go before we find out!

It's worth noting that currently the margin of difference between numbers three through seven for that week are fairly small, meaning it's anyone's guess as to who will end up in what position. Supernova is above T-ara by only the smallest of margins... Singles: 01 571.30 AKB48 - Manatsu no Sounds good! 02 96.40 NYC - Haina! 03 68.00 GLAY - Bible 04 62.60 Yuzu - with you 05 58.50 Choshinsei - Stupid Love / COME BACK TO ME 06 55.30 T-ARA - Lovey-Dovey (Japanese ver.) 07 51.60 Nishino Kana - Watashitachi 08 26.70 BUCK-TICK - Elise no Tame ni 09 23.70 The Cro-magnons - Totsugeki Rock 10 23.10 TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE - Tsuioku -Single Arrange ver.- / Taisetsu na Kotoba It's gonna be really interesting to see where everyone ends up!

I actually am really enjoying Gangkiz's first mini-album, but I'm not going to lie-with the exception of "Honey Honey" (which does sound a lot like "Roly-Poly" and "Lovey-Dovey") all of the tracks on the album sound like something that could've possibly been included on T-ara's first album. That's mean as a compliment, by the way, as AFA remains my favorite full-length K-Pop album to this day. For some reason I have a good feeling about Gangkiz doing well; "Honey Honey" is enjoyable and easily my favorite title track from a rookie group to debut this year so far, and their rehearsal vid showed that while the choreo they plan on using to perform the song live is by no means spectacular, it's pretty good, and the girls can dance fairly decently. As far as Gangkiz's statement that the European trip was by no means a vacation for T-ara, of course it wasn't. We all knew that. And I really wouldn't take their claims that they want to exceed or meet T-ara's level of success so seriously; if anything, it's a compliment. T-ara has been very successful, most groups (boy or girl) would give their right arm to experience the level of fame the girls have reached. Of course, if they knew the sacrifices the girls more than likely had to make in order to get there they may rethink their stance, but I digress.

Just a couple of thoughts... 1.) Jewelry Box isn't so much a true Japanese album as it is a collection of T-ara's greatest hits translated into Japanese. KARA did this with their first Japanese album, and it sold roughly 180,000 units; likewise, 2NE1's first Japanese album is something akin to a "Best of Korean" album and it's not doing too well either. A better prediction for this album would be between 150,000 to 200,000, and even that is a stretch. T-ara's popular in Japan, but they're nowhere near popular enough to shift 500,000 units of their debut Japanese album. Hell, Perfume doesn't even do those types of numbers and they've been on the J-Pop scene for YEARS. 2.) CCM/EMI knows damn good and well that T-ara is never going to shift that many albums; this is nothing more than a ploy to sell more records. They're dangling a free concert in front of fans in hopes that it will help stimulate album sales; they know that 500,000 is a long shot, but that it's not so far out of reach that it doesn't seem feasible to some people. It also gives the impression that T-ara is more popular than they really are in Japan (and they're popular, but they aren't at that level yet). 3.) Number two kind of ties into this point, and that's that you really can't trust what Japanese music industry prognosticators say. Remember when that article was posted about how J-Roly-Poly was forecasted to shift 300,000 units of the single album? It's only about a fifth of that. These kind of reports and "predictions" are used to help give the illusion that an artist is more popular than they truly are. If people read that their albums and singles are predicted to sell gangbusters, it makes them wonder what all the fuss is about, which (hopefully) encourages that person to check out their album, singles, etc. and possibly buy the merchandise. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer here, and I have to commend EMI for playing the game, but these numbers are pretty inflated. The only way I see Jewelry Box doing anywhere above 300,000 is if T-ara experiences a spike in popularity and people revisit their older material (which isn't unheard of, KARA's first Japanese album definitely benefitted from this when they became super popular in Japan). For now though I think it's safe to say that 200,000 would be the maximum they'd sell, and even THAT'S going to be a stretch.

In Korea, this is true. In Japan it is a different story. Just because Jiyeon is a hot commodity in Korea does not mean that it's the same case in other territories, and truth be told Qri and Boram seem to have their fair share of Japanese fans (hence why Boram received more lines and screen time this time around...if she gets shafted in Korea they usually make up for it by giving her more air time in Japan on their singles and videos...usually). Anyways, on to the pros: *Boram got more screen time. This was probably the biggest highlight of the video and song for me as I was getting really sick of seeing her pushed to the back and forgotten about. She sounded and looked good (well, as good as you're going to sound or look considering the quality of the video and song). *Save for Jiyeon, all of the girls looked fantastic. Jiyeon just looked kind of disinterested and sounded as much. I think this whole mess regarding the member additions and KKS's ridiculous bully tactics have worn on her, probably moreso than some of the other girls. It's not surprising since she's still pretty young and probably isn't as adept at hiding her feelings as some of the others are. *The ending was great, although a bit sad...I can't remember who said it but someone commenting on this article mentioned that there's a bit of poignancy to the ending as it kind of reflects the real-life situation the girls are in...this is probably the last time we'll see the seven of them as a whole unit before the changes KKS have been mentioning take effect. So to see them dancing off like that at the end is a bit sad...it's the last time T-ara will be known as 7-ara, and who knows what other changes will be taking effect. Now for the cons: *The lighting, editing, hell, the overall quality of the video was shoddy and not up to par with T-ara's Korean efforts or even their other Japanese efforts. While the video for J-Lies was kind of cheap looking, at least it was cheap looking in a pretty way. This is a dim, seizure inducing hot mess. You can't even really discern their shuffle dance due to all the quick cuts in the video. *I'm not sure who's doing the blending and autotune for T-ara's Japanese tracks, but I just need to say that J-Roly-Poly and now J-Lovey-Dovey sound absolutely horrible, and this person needs to be fired, ASAP. They sound like they're singing karaoke over the instrumentals, and it sounds just as cheap as the video looks. To this day J-Yayaya sounds the best out of any of their Japanese tracks Japanese wise, which I guess isn't much of a stretch since the majority of the song is jibber-jabber anyways. All in all I'd say this is their weakest Japanese effort to date, and it really pisses me off that so little thought is being put into their venture into the Japanese market. T-ara has all the hallmarks of being absolutely huge in Japan if properly managed, so to see CCM/EMI squander this golden opportunity all in the name of making a quick buck is frustrating to no end. I always thought T-ara would be one of the lucky ones who survived the inevitable K-Pop collapse in Japan once the Hallyu wave died down over there, but I'm not so sure at this point. They don't spend nearly as much time in Japan as they need to to cultivate a fanbase, and their Japanese material is as weak as their Korean material is strong. It needs to be said that I don't blame the girls for this at all, since none of it is in their control...it's just a shame that they're being so poorly managed, especially since they could easily one of the biggest girl groups in Asia if just given the right opportunities.

T-ara hasn't spent nearly as much time cultivating their fanbase in Japan as the two groups you mentioned, so the fact that they are doing as well as they are on as little promo as they're doing there is excellent. I don't think anyone expects this album to do as well as SNSD or KARA's; I'm hoping for 200,000-300,000 total, which would be pretty good and is within their reach. They could be doing a lot better, of course, but for whatever reason CCM doesn't seem to really believe in allowing them to stay over there for more than a month before returning them to Korea.

Rambo looked so cute!!! This whole mess with KKS has really made me realize how much I'd miss her if she were to go. Thankfully it doesn't look like anyone's going anywhere since all the girls have been seen in good spirits, either through attending events like this, through activity updates, or through their selcas (Boram had put up some really goofy ones recently, lol).

My thoughts exactly, meaning the three that are allegedly in danger right now are Boram, Qri, and Hwayoung. I'm hoping we'll hear some definitive news on activities coming up for these three soon, but since they rarely promote outside of T-ara anyways I wouldn't be suprised if we didn't hear anything until April 7th. *Sigh* This waiting game is horrible.

That's what she said, but like I said, it sounded like there were extenuating circumstances on a post she made on her Tumblr. She's since deleted it (which is suspicious in and of itself) but you can read the post in its entirety here: http://blog.ningin.com/2011/10/18/bekahs-recent-tumblr-post-reads-like-shes-giving-the-finger-to-pledis/ It sounds like she was given her pink slip by Pledis, and instead of making a fuss about it she left with her head held high and decided not to publicly call them out on it. Even this requires you to read in between the lines...but not all that much. And she wasn't necessarily correcting her fans and people who commented on the entry by saying it wasn't about Pledis...

There is so much that you could do with an article like that, and I know you're a good journalist because I follow your blog religiously lol. AKP is a HUGE deal, I know that a lot of the Korean agencies use it to see what kind of press they're getting internationally (which is why the site's contributors stopped being such d**cks when they would report something, lol). To think that your article could make a difference (and it very well could) is pretty damn awesome.

I'd rather they all just leave as a whole and try to sign with a different agency. CCM obviously lacks competence as seen by this boneheaded move, and I don't think the girls are going to be any happier signed to different groups as long as they are under KKS's thumb. If anything that's exactly what he wants; for them to know that he can do as he wishes, at whatever point, without repercussion. Barring that, T-ara just wouldn't be T-ara unless each of the seven girls were present. I've grown to love each and every one of them for different reasons, and I'm sure a lot of fans echo this sentiment as well. I can deal with additions (although I don't think they're necessary), but I'm not sure how I would deal with a subtraction, unless it was something the member in question genuinely wanted. But I stan hardcore for them, so it may be a different case entirely with the more casual fan. But yeah, I just believe that they just work together very well; even with the obvious issues they have (tired performances, uneven line distribution, etc.) they have that "X-factor" as a group that makes people like them; they complement each other very well. To tamper with that is sheer lunacy. Anyways, the absolute WORST case scenario, in my opinion anyways, is that a member is kicked out and their contract with CCM is terminated prematurely, effectively giving them no place to go. It happened to Bekah in After School (if her Tumblr is to be believed)...it very well could happen to a member of T-ara. And if said member decided to take the Bekah route and leave gracefully instead of speaking out about what TRULY happened, then there really isn't much that could be done.

You make a lot of really good points in this article. I agree with a lot of it, but... Could T-ara really be considered a rebellious idol group if they did seek litigation for their cause? I mean, if they did hypothetically sue, it wouldn't necessarily be for the same reason as KARA, who sued because they felt they were not adequately compensated monetarily for their hard work in both Japan and Korea. In my opinion T-ara has become a poster child for the overworked idol. Their name is usually at the top of the list when an article is written about the matter or mention is made of it; in other words, would it be considered rebellious on their part if they were simply seeking better working conditions and had no other choice but to sue in order to do so? I know that Korean philosophy dictates that hard work builds character, but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and I don't want T-ara to be a casualty of war in this case. As far as T-ara's performing capabilities go if they did transfer to another agency or company, I'm not necessarily sure that would be as big an issue as you think. KKS may have successfully highlighted the girl's strengths while shadowing their weaknesses in the interim, but he did so in a dunderheaded way that ultimately did not work in the long run. As a result there are girls with untapped potential who are ultimately stuck sitting around, twiddling their thumbs while the more naturally talented girls do the majority of the work. Boram, Qri, and Hwayoung were not adequately trained prior to debut, meaning that they did not receive the same level of attention that Soyeon, Hyomin, Jiyeon and Eunjung did. They basically had to pick it up as they went. I think that the trick would be to allow the girls to have adequate time off if they DID ultimately end up leaving CCM to join another company to hone their abilities and give the girls more clearly defined roles within the group. I don't believe that the girls of T-ara are any less talented than the members of SNSD; it's just that that group was given the opportunity to train adequately prior to their debut, hence the supposed gap in terms of talent between the two groups. T-ara could have that as well if given proper attention, which they obviously haven't been getting. When it comes to the girl's emotional fortitudes if a lawsuit does occur, that's going to be the big question on everyone's minds. One needs to only look to KARA or DBSK to see that often a group does not see eye to eye when it comes to litigious matters; three of the girls ultimately ended up sueing while two stuck by their parent label, and although the girls ultimately stayed together as a group there was a period of time when many did not know if there would be any more KARA after all was said and done. Likewise, the lawsuit DBSK brought against SME spelled the undoing of the group. I'd love to see T-ara stand together and face KKS and CCM as a group united, but lawsuits are incredibly exhausting, both mentally and physically. Dirty laundry is aired out, libel and slander occurs, and even the strongest individuals buckle under the pressure. At this point all I want is for them to be happy, though, and I just don't see them being happy if they have to stay under these kinds of conditions. This may be the point in these girl's lives where they finally take a stand for what they believe in and bring down a (self-proclaimed) Goliath. Of course, this is only under the best of circumstances, but the point is that at this time and junction there really don't seem to be any other options available to them. Things will be very shaky for both the group and the fandom for a while, regardless of the outcome on April 7th. The best advice anyone could give would be to hold on to your butt, because it's going to be a bumpy ride.

At this point the fandom has made good points for why each and every member could be up for expulsion from the group, save for one lone member. And I hate that it sounds like T-ara is on their own personal hellish version of Survivor, but it is what it is. Let's review why each girl could theoretically be kicked out and why they also could be safe... Hyomin: Why she could be kicked out: There pretty much IS no reason why Hyomin would get the boot. She's a workaholic, she loves the spotlight, she's talented, and she busts her butt to make sure T-ara's name is represented in a positive fashion. Not only that, she is one of the original members of T-ara, she has developed a sizeable fandom of her own, and her popularity only seems to be growing. I am almost 100% positive she is safe. Why she could be safe: See above. Eunjung: Why she could be kicked out: Eunjung has become more and more prone to injury since "Lovey-Dovey" promotions began and has been unable to take place in several important group functions. By KKS's fuzzy logic, the group has functioned fine without her. Add that she has been given less and less lines in their songs to accomodate Hwayoung's inclusion into the group, along with the fact that she seems much more intent on her acting career as of late, and in my opinion she falls somewhere in the middle between "safe" and "in danger." Why she could be safe: Eunjung, like Hyomin, is one of the original members of T-ara and has developed a sizeable fanbase of her own. She is also arguably the most well-rounded member of the group: she sings, she dances, she raps, she acts, and she's beautiful. Not only that, but her contributions to promoting the group in ventures like We Got Married and Dream High are invaluable. Plus she is a trooper...after she hurt her ankle shortly before "Lovey-Dovey" promotions began, she made it abundantly clear that she was going to stand on the debut stage with her fellow group members to perform the song...and she did just that. Jiyeon: Why she could be kicked out: When KKS began talking about "prideful and lazy" members, my first thoughts went to Jiyeon. She is obviously not a lazy girl, by any stretch of the word, but KKS probably misconstrues her oft-tired performances as rebellion on her part. Let's all be honest here...we've all joked about Jiyeon's xxxx faces during her performances at one time or another, albeit in a loving fashion. We all KNOW she's tired, and that irritability is a common sign of fatigue. So we aren't surprised. But KKS may be wanting to send her a warning to straighten up and fly by his rules, or she risks expulsion. Why she could be safe: Jiyeon more than likely has nothing to worry about. She IS the face of T-ara, hands down. She is also one of the most popular idols in Korea at the moment, competing with the likes of Yoona, and IU (who are considered national idols). She is also a VERY commercially viable actress, which in turn helps promote T-ara. To give her the boot would be idiocy on KKS's part. Soyeon: Why she could be kicked out: Soyeon is recognized as a loveable loudmouth, but calling out the CEO on live television was more than just being a loudmouth...it was bold, fearless, and something that could have huge repercussions. I have no doubt that Soyeon (and, to a lesser extent, Hyomin and Boram) were all scolded after that broadcast, and I have no doubt that Soyeon stood her ground. She's wilfull, strong, and like any good leader, she's looking out for the best interests of her fellow members. Still, I wonder if her confession may have ultimately had something to do with KKS's decision to make these changes all of a sudden, and where it will ultimately leave Soyeon. Why she could be safe: If Jiyeon is the "face" of T-ara, then Soyeon is most definitely it's "voice." She is considered one of the most vocally talented female idols in the Korean pop music industry; there is a reason CCM bought out her contract with SM, she is a huge boon to the group. Her popularity is also on the rise, especially after taking the group to new heights with their physical album sales for Funky Town. Boram: Why she could be kicked out: Boram is one of the members that have ended up on many a fan's chopping block since this whole debacle began. As a member of T-ara she has been given less and less to do in terms of her lines on their tracks, and her screen time is also nearly non-existent. She also does not promote outside of T-ara; whether it be by personal choice or due to lack of interest is unknown. Her confession on Twitter about her faltering health, much like Soyeon's claim on live television regarding their lack of a proper vacation, also probably got her scolded as well as it cast a bad light on T-ara's company, something they were already under fire for due to their poor treatment of the girls. She is also older by a few years than most of her bandmates, something that may be seen as a detraction by KKS; after all, this IS the man who added Hwayoung to the group primarily for the purpose of lowering the group's average age. Add in that KKS's claims that the members who lack the talent will be given less time to shine, and many people automatically assume that he is referring to either Boram or Qri. Why she could be safe: As many have already stated, Boram's position in the group may be more stable than many fans think. She is a member of the Jeon family, who could best be compared to the Barrymores or the Hustons in America; this family has been in showbusiness a LONG time, and they have a lot of pull in the industry. Need an example? When Boram's father found out what she was going to be wearing for the "I Go Crazy Because Of You" promotions, he went ballistic, demanding that CCM find more suitable outfits for her to wear. And they did. To go against this family would be lunacy on KKS's part, and something that could rain Hell down on his head. If KKS thinks HE'S got connections, he hasn't seen anything yet. She is also one of the most instantly recognizable idols in the industry...if you don't remember anyone else in T-ara you remember the short, incredibly cute girl, and that's invaluable because she helps to give the T-ara brand an identity. But that's not all...Boram IS genuinely talented. She may not have Soyeon or Eunjung's singing chops, but she does have a lovely voice. She can also dance very well, as evidenced by the pre-debut videos you can see of her dancing to BoA's "My Name." So the talent IS there...it just hasn't been cultivated, and that's no one's fault but CCM's. Qri: Why she could be kicked out: Qri is, without a doubt, the least talented member of T-ara vocally. We all know that she wasn't added to the group for her ability to sing live at Radio City Music Hall. We also know that in terms of her singing lines she is usually given much less than most of the other vocally capable members, save for Boram. There's also the VERY suspicious fact that Qri was offered a role in one of Japan's most popular dramas...and for whatever reason, turned it down. Did CCM make her turn it down because she wasn't going to be a member of the company much longer? Did she voluntarily turn in down, which angered CCM due to the invaluable promotion that the drama would have given T-ara in Japan? We just don't know. Why she could be safe: Unless it's changed, Qri is generally thought to be KKS's favorite member of T-ara. The man seems to almost have a romantic infatuation with her at times the way he fawns over her. This extends to male members of T-ara's fanbase as well...Qri is generally considered to be one of the most beautiful idols in the industry by many. Not only that, but it does seem that CCM has been making some sort of an effort to get Qri's name out into the general public; she did get to open and close "Cry Cry," as well as receiving prominent parts in both the longform video and song for "Lovey-Dovey." She has improved leaps and bounds since debut as well, as evidenced by her live vocal performances as of late. Hwayoung: Why she could be kicked out: Poor Hwayoung. It hasn't even been a year and a half since her debut with T-ara and to this very day she continues to get a lot of guff from fans. Many say that they just don't understand her purpose in T-ara; she's the designated rapper, yet T-ara had two very capable rappers prior to her joining. She can sing, but the group already had Soyeon and Eunjung, and Hwayoung is definitely no powerhouse. She CAN dance, and very well at that. Many hit below the belt and went after Hwayoung for her looks...true, she's not as visually striking as Jiyeon, Eunjung, or even Boram, but she is an attractive girl. She also does not promote outside of T-ara, and on their variety shows she is generally quiet and does not say much...her presence can be forgettable. Add to that that there have been claims that she and Jiyeon did not get along well at all. Regardless, many wonder if perhaps her time in T-ara was simply a trial run that didn't go as well as planned, and if KKS will rotate her out to make room for another girl that may be better accepted by the public and fans. Why she could be safe: It does seem that lately CCM have been trying to utilize Hwayoung more, and Hwayoung seems to be rising to the task. She looks leagues better with her new short 'do than with her long hair, and after wowing fans with her rapping skills in "We Were In Love" and then with her (surprising) singing and dancing skills in "Lovey-Dovey," it finally seems that the tide of opinion has begun to turn in her favor. Plus, there is also her age, which, as was stated before, helps lower the group's average age, which in KKS's eyes could be enough to keep her on. I know this was basically a short essay, but I wrote this as a way to show that, at this point anyways, there is no use in worrying about what may or may not come. Theoretically it could be ANY of the girls that KKS was talking about. He chose his words very specifically; his entire statement was a veiled threat at worst and mere trolling at best. He WANTS the fans to be in an uproar over this, as well as the girls. He doesn't want anyone to know anything, which is why his statement could be construed to be talking about any or all of the members of T-ara. Whatever happens will happen, and at this point all we can really do is just wait. Do I think he's going to kick anyone out? Honestly, no. If anything I think that additions will be made or subgroups will be formed, but if he's using this as a scare tactic against the girls then I have no doubt that within the next year they WILL be sueing to be released from their contract...and I don't blame them. Not one bit. I also have no doubt that if T-ara stand united together then they would have no trouble finding a new company. KKS may have given Jiae and Jiwon trouble after they left CCM, but I doubt that his clout will extend to what many consider to be one of the most popular girl groups in Korea and Japan. Money talks, and T-ara's a gold mine; if they sue, they will win, and I wouldn't doubt that every company in Korea will be knocking down their doors for a piece of them. Look at what T-ara was able to do under a smaller, incompetent label; now think of what they could do in the hands of a company like JYPE, SM, YG, or Cube. They would be happy to have T-ara, and they would no doubt give them the time off that they so righteously deserve. In other words, let KKS play his little games. The only loser in the long run will be him. If he didn't learn from Lee Hyori, SeeYa, or SG Wannabe, then maybe T-ara will be the one that finally drives the lesson home for him. And if you haven't guessed then at this point I'm leaning towards the girls sueing and getting the Hell away from this madman. All of a sudden things like new albums or concerts seem trifling if it's at the expense of the girl's own well-being and mental health, which this man is obviously toying with. I want them away from him, and I hope it happens, and soon.