Even if true, Areum's chances of being successful as a solo are extremely low, if not even zero.
1. Popularity comparable, or even lower than Boram and Qri. In other words, she's only marginally popular than a nugu rookie idol.
2. Vocal skills. She's not even on Soyeon's level, nor is she comparable to other vocally able idols like Taeyeon and Hyorin. I won't even get started on her 'rapping'.
3. Agency. Let's be honest here - CCM's management is awfully sub-par, and that's putting it subtly. Last time they had a successful solo was Lee Hyori, and that was 4 years ago.
4. Chances are she's probably going to be added into a different group into the future as the main 'vocal' or the 'visual'. There's a good chance that CCM is saying BS here and Areum playing along with it. After all, CCM seems to enjoy rearranging its groups during June and July, for whatever reasons.