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Hyomin, from the girl group T-ara, has been considering her future going forward after her contract with MBK Entertainment expired last year, and has recently signed an exclusive contract with Sublime Artist Agency, beginning her domestic and Chinese activities. While planning for a solo album in the first half of the year with an impressive second act as an artist, she expressed on a phone call on the 17th, "in 2014, I released a solo album for the first time, and in 2016, I released my second solo album. 2 years later, I'm once again preparing for a new album. Rather than an extension of the image that I have already shown, I feel like I'm starting anew, I will prepare my mindset as if I'm debuting all over again. I will try hard to show a much different image than before." Even as a soloist, the modifier "T-ara's" still follows right before Hyomin's name. Even though it is a "shinning crown", it still is a catalyst that brings back difficult memories. Since T-ara’s debut in 2009, they have experienced both the joy of being at the peak and the pain of falling from grace. They are a group with more difficult times than joyous. For Hyomin, what meaning does "T-ara" hold? "I have devoted my youth to T-ara. It's another name for my youth, and it has already become a part of my life. Honestly, I hated the name at one point, but I knew I could never throw it away. The name is so precious to me.” Hyomin has spent the past 9 years as a member of T-ara, she expressed her gratitude, "I never want to forget, I want to always remember these times. To be a member of T-ara is an honor. I'm grateful we were able to be active during a time where K-Pop is loved around the world. I think we were a lucky group. All the members worked hard but we were lucky to receive such excessive love. There were a lot of times our members said, "we're very lucky." In reality, T-ara has many memories of frustration and hard times. 3 years into their debut, they leaped to become a top Korean girl group, but in July of 2012, they fell due to the "T-ara Bullying Controversy" and never reclaimed their former popularity. "There were many difficult times, but there are more good memories. That incident happened 3-4 years into our debut, but as time went on, we became a group of 8 years, of 9 years, of 10 years. In fact, as a group, our hard times seemed longer than our happier times, but I think we did very well. I'm happy, I was lucky.” From her pain and frustrations, she has learned many things. Putting Hyomin’s entire life into perspective, it could be a "tonic". “During the early days of our group activities, we thought 'if we release this song, of course it'd be loved'. Afterwards, I thought 'no matter how hard you try, you won't be loved.' Even though I knew that, I still had to work. Still, through the tough times, I was able to mature a lot. I realized how precious the overwhelming love we received at the beginning was. We could feel the difference of the distinct boundaries between the good times and the bad. We stood on stage after the cheers disappeared, I realized how precious the cheers from before were. I think we're lucky to have been given this enlightenment." The members of T-ara have been in constant contact after their contracts expired at the end of last year. Although they are in a legal dispute with MBK Entertainment over the trademark for "T-ara", they still maintain a strong relationship with 'the father of T-ara', MBK’s executive producer Kim Kwang Soo. "After our contracts expired, there were times we were at odds over minor misunderstandings and argued with producer Kim Kwang Soo, like sisters or mother and daughters. But that's not how it is. No matter what, he’s the father who made us, and made us debut when we knew nothing. This is our first experience with a legal dispute, I think there are some parts we're not familiar with. Even after our contracts ended, producer Kim Kwang Soo said if anything comes up, we can ask him for advice, like children, he treats us like precious daughters. I met with producer Kim Kwang Soo in April for the first time since our contracts ended, we just laughed without saying a word. Like family." *** Source: Naver

On May 24th, according to multiple broadcasting officials, Eunjung has been cast in the upcoming KBS 2TV drama 'Lovely Horribly'. Staring Park Shi Hoo and Song Ji Ho as the protagonists, 'Lovely Horribly' is a horror-romance drama about a ghostwriter's screenplays coming to life. Park Shi Hoo plays a top star of the Korean entertainment industry while Song Ji Ho plays the ghostwriter. Eunjung will the role of Yoona, a popular entertainer alongside the male lead. 'Lovely Horribly' is expected to broadcast in August. *** Source: Nate

During the interview, T-ara’s Hyomin was crying. It has been 7 years since the so-called “T-ara Scandal” happened in 2012. When asked, “do you think the people’s perspective of T-ara has changed?” Hyomin shed tears to her “memories” up to this point. At one point, T-ara was the idol group receiving the most criticism in Korea. During T-ara’s last activity, they cried when they saw the audience singing with them, which might have been a natural thing. “There were times when the audience would turn their backs to us while we were performing. That’s why we were very surprised (when they sang together with us). Because of that, we tried our best to sing even harder.” When T-ara won their first 1st place in 5 years on a music program, Hyomin also cried, and Jiyeon and Qri were both in a fit of tears. Hyomin said, “that was a music program where the fan vote ratio was particularly high. We knew that our fans must have tried their absolute best to give us 1st place, so when we think about all the difficulties our fans must have gone through, we shed many grateful tears,” and thinking back to that day, she cried again. “People usually say that you will forget about it as time goes on. I absolutely do not think that at all. I will never forget the things that I have experienced.” The “T-ara Scandal” is an event that Hyomin can never erase, and it has become a memory that she will embrace towards the future. Hyomin has merely lived with the feeling of “taking it in, and heading towards a better direction” up to this point, and she will probably continue to living with such feelings. Even though this is a publication commemoration interview for her new solo song, “why am I crying so much?” asked Hyomin as she cried while shyly laughing. For her parents’ sake as well, she was not able to give up on herself. She also conveyed that it is also because there are fans who have shown courage and supported T-ara more than anyone else. “If I were by myself, I probably couldn’t have withstood it,” Hyomin told us. “When we had difficult times, the members supported each other. It was probably because we had the same dream. Even though we had many difficult times, the only moments we were happy was when we prepared for the stage and performed.” To commemorate T-ara’s 10th anniversary, the members are preparing to give the fans a precious memory. For Hyomin, who has experienced many things during these 10 years, her wish is a simple one. “I want to create good memories, even if it’s just a small one, with my friends and the staff I’m working together with from here on out.”

Korean singer Park Soyeon, who made a cameo in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, directed by Wong Cholam, accepted Apple’s interview in Tsim Sha Tsui. Regarding her 1-min appearance, she frankly spoke that she did not mind, “it’s already an honor for Cholam to invite me. Also, I’ve heard that there are 60 actors in this film, including Joey Yung. Ryan Zheng and I played a Korean couple, but the script changed a lot on the day of the shoot, and since Ryan didn’t understand Korean, I taught him each sentence one by one like a teacher.” When asked whether she wishes for her ideal boyfriend to be as loving of a husband as Cholam, she responded, “he’s very serious at work which makes him very charming, and his eyes are very beautiful too. His baby will be very beautiful too with those eyes. His wife showed up when we were filming too, which is very touching.” *** Source: Apple Daily

Hyomin will be returning with a new song titled '으음으음 (U Um U Um)' on January 20th at 6 PM KST. An agency official said, "Hyomin is releasing a new song and is devoted on preparing to release a mini album next month. This time, it'll be a song that challenges a new genre and reveals a different charm of Hyomin," and is raising the expectations of many people. *** Source: Naver

Jiyeon is making her return as a singer. According to multiple officials on November 27th, Jiyeon is currently preparing for a digital single comeback in December. The new song is a thank you to her fans, no broadcast activities have been planned. An official said, "Jiyeon is preparing for her next album." Earlier, it was announced Jiyeon had signed an exclusive contract with Partner Park, a management company for actors, and is expected to meet the public as a singer first. Due to health reason, Jiyeon had taken previously taken time off to rest and recharge. In regards to her postponed Hong Kong fan meet that was scheduled for September, "I had just as much expectations as my fans, because it was my very first solo fan meet. I am so sorry it had to be postponed due to my health. I've been treated well and will be back in good health," Jiyeon apologetically expressed. After sufficient rest, Jiyeon will make her comeback and communicate with fans via Instagram and Weibo for further updates. *** Source: Naver

Jiyeon has signed an exclusive contract with Partners Park for her domestic management. On the 23rd, an official from Partners Park stated, "we are dedicated to the domestic management of Jiyeon as an actress and singer." "With Partners Park professional and differentiated support, we will fully support Jiyeon's domestic activities that will show off her talents in various fields. We will do our best to communicate with the people through Jiyeon's good work." Partners Park is an management company for actors that houses other talented actresses such as Han Ye Seul, Gu Hye Sun and Cha Joo Young. *** Source: Naver

Jiyeon and Hyomin held their birthday parties on the June 2nd and 3rd respectively where they showed Queen's an amazing time but also dropped hints on what's to come. Hyomin plans for a comeback within August. She is preparing 2, possibly 3, versions. Hyomin hinted the title song, which she composed, is comprised of 2 words. While a decision hasn't been made yet, she is considering creating her own personal fan name/club, fan color and light stick. Finally, there'll be plans to visit China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Through games and chats with the fans, Hyomin shared some other fun facts: Her favorite T-ara song is Like The First Time, her favorite solo song is Gold. Her favorite food is chicken. Her favorite type of alcohol is wine and soju. Recently, she's been brewing plum wine for herself. She would like to travel to London and Shanghai. She has visited Shanghai for work but hasn't gotten the chance to enjoy the food. When she has more confidence, she would like to guest on King of Masked Singer and sing T-ara songs. Since the songs are sung by a group, she may not be immediately recognized (i.e singing lines that aren't known to be hers.) At her party, Jiyeon revealed she will have her own fan name/club and there will be an inauguration ceremony. She will have her very own light sticks too. She will launch her own website, Twitter and YouTube. Jiyeon plans to upload dance related videos to her YouTube. At the end of July, she will have a collaboration with a Vietnam singer. A fanmeeting will take place in Hong Kong on September 8th, before which she will likely release her new album. While unconfirmed, she hopes to have a solo concert towards the end of the year. Finally, Jiyeon plans to return to acting early next year. Jiyeon also shared some fun facts about herself: The longest she has ever slept is 13 hours. She uses baby powder scented shampoo. When asked what was her favorite cosmetic brand... she responded she didn't know any. A junior who has caught her interest the most is Chungha. Let's look forward to some amazing works from Hyomin and Jiyeon!

I love to keep seeing information about T-ara members' activities! Hopefully they are having fun and are active, and I hope for a future comeback by T-ara! :-)