On Twitter, K-pop fans recalled the "old drama" involving Hwayoung and T-ARA Eunjung after the former was seen clapping for the latter in an opening ceremony for a music and film festival.

What did just happen?

T-ARA Eunjung Receives Applause from Former Co-Member Hwayoung – What's the Tea?

On August 10, the opening ceremony for the 19th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival 2023 was held at Jecheon City, Chungcheongbuk-do.

The ceremony will run until the 15th, which will showcase and feature music and films that can be enjoyed by all generations.

Among the well-known celebrities and personalities who attended the opening ceremony, the ones who captured the attention of fans the most were T-ARA Eunjung and her former co-member Hwayoung.

(Photo : Eunjung, Hwayoung (Kpop Wiki | KProfiles))

ALSO READ: Where Are Hwayoung & Hyoyoung Now? Status of 'Ryu Twins' After T-ara Bullying Scandal

The reason is that it is one of the rare events where the two idols, who had a serious "beef" in the past, can be seen together in one space again.

In 2012, Hwayoung left the group after terminating her contract with Core Contents Media (hereinafter MBK Entertainment). At the time, she posted cryptic messages "hinting" discord with T-ARA and things escalated from then on.

Among the members, Eunjung was said to be the one who bullied Hwayoung.

Their appearance alone in one venue made a buzz on social media, but K-pop fans recalled the "old drama" when a clip where Hwayoung was seen reacting to Eunjung's opening speech went viral on Twitter.

In the video, Eunjung looks dashing on stage while giving her speech in the spotlight as the ceremony's ambassador.

When she bowed to give her final greetings then, the camera focused on the audience, and one of the personalities caught by the camera was Hwayoung, clapping for her former co-member. She was also seen looking at the big screen and giving a soft smile.

When the video was uploaded, it went viral on Twitter (hereinafter X), garnering about half a million views.

(Photo : Instagram: @eunjung.hahm)

(Photo : Hwayoung)

In the quotes, fans and internet users can't help but talk about the "tea," the majority of people were criticizing Hwayoung for creating a fake bullying scandal that ruined T-ARA's skyrocketing career at the time.

Despite it, Hwayoung didn't retire from the entertainment scene and is continuously working despite the hardships her former co-members have to suffer after accusing them of being bullies.

People also praised the cameraman for zooming in on where Hwayoung was sitting, who knows what happened before.

Summary of T-ARA vs Hwayoung Issue

(Photo : T-ARA (Instagram))

In 2009, T-ARA originally debuted as a six-member group until Hwayoung was added in 2010, making them a septet. The team rose as one of the most popular second-gen girl groups, creating hits such as "Roly Poly," "Bo Peep Bo Peep," "Lovey Dovey" and more.

Amid their fame, Hwayoung left the agency and the team in 2012 which truly shocked the whole K-pop scene as the said reason was due to the star suffering from the bullying of the members. There are narratives that T-ARA was against adding Hwayoung to their group and "proof" of mistreating the idol surfaced from their past clips.

(Photo : Hwayoung (News1))

Immediately, netizens and fans sided with Hwayoung and they were sympathizing with her especially when she appeared with leg injuries amid the bullying controversy.

T-ARA became an outcast in the K-pop scene which led to their long hiatus not until it was revealed in 2017 that it was all a gimmick of Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung to gain the sympathy of the public and the said "bullying" never happened, rather, it can be concluded as a usual discord that commonly happens when you're working in a group.

Although T-ARA's name has been cleared, they never recovered the fame that they had back in their "heyday."

READ MORE: From T-ara to April: News Outlet Recalls Biggest Bullying Issues and Conflicts Among K-pop Girl Groups

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Written by Eunice Dawson.