Bitter Facts Behind AOA's Successful Career as K-Pop Idol Group, Members Departing One by One - Mina's Confession as a Bullying Victim

Kapanlagi.com - AOA, which stands for Ace of Angels, is a K-Pop girl group under the management of FNC Entertainment. The group started with a unique concept, promoting as a dance group and a band at the same time.

Despite having a relatively shining career, AOA is not free from a series of problems. One by one, AOA members have left the group, and the latest confession came from Mina, stating that she was bullied by one of her fellow team members.

1. Top Girl Group

credit: 10Asia

The group debuted with the single album Angel's Story in July 2012. Initially, it was composed of 8 members, namely Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, Chanmi, Mina, Choa, and Youkyung. In the following year, the band unit AOA Black, consisting of Jimin, Yuna, Mina, Choa, and Youkyung, released the single album MOYA, which was quite successful with 171,475 downloads and 2,692 physical CD sales according to the Gaon Music Chart.

AOA's name started to be recognized in the K-Pop industry in 2014 through a series of their hit songs, Miniskirt, Short Hair, and Like a Cat. Their popularity soared during the Heart Attack era, which dominated various music charts in 2015.

2. Youkyung, a Member Who Hasn't Had a Chance to Shine

credit: FNC Entertainment

Youkyung may be less known to new K-Pop fans, but she has been a part of the group as a drummer since the beginning of AOA's debut. She hasn't been seen since the MOYA promotions in July 2013.

On October 15, 2016, FNC released a statement about Youkyung's departure after completing her 5-year contract. This decision was made after extensive discussions between the agency and the idol involved.

Although no longer under FNC Entertainment, Youkyung is still a member of AOA Black and remains a guest member for future promotional activities.

3. Choa's Departure and the Rumors Surrounding It

credit: FNC Entertainment

One year after Youkyung's departure, Choa followed suit and left AOA. After a brief hiatus, Choa confirmed her departure through an Instagram post on June 22, 2017.

In her post, Choa explained that her reason for leaving the group was due to depression and insomnia. She also stated that her efforts to use medication in the past two years did not help her improve.

There were many rumors circulating about Choa's hiatus and departure before the official statement was announced. It was reported that Choa was in a romantic relationship with Lee Suk Jin, the CEO of a game company called Najin. Some also said that Choa decided to leave AOA because she was planning to get married soon.

Choa admitted that she will not return to the Korean entertainment industry until she overcomes her fears and shows a better side of herself, with the condition that there are still people willing to support her in her career comeback.

4. Mina Does Not Extend Contract

credit: FNC Entertainment

The departure of Choa as the main vocalist is not the end of the problems that AOA has to face. Last year, FNC Entertainment announced that Mina also left AOA and the agency after she decided not to renew her contract. Meanwhile, the other 5 members (Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, and Chanmi) renewed their contracts and continued their careers with AOA.

"Hello, we are FNC Entertainment.

We would like to announce the contract extension of Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, and Chanmi of AOA.

AOA will continue as a group with 5 members because they want to continue as a group and have renewed their contracts for the fans who have given them support and love.

We have been working with them with unwavering trust and confidence, and we will provide full support to AOA.

However, after 7 years together and a series of long discussions with the members and the company, Mina has decided to take a different path to pursue her new dreams.

We have decided to terminate her contract and ask her to leave AOA because we respect her decision.

Please support and encourage Mina, who has made this decision after much thought.

We will continue to support the 5 AOA members who renewed their contracts so that they can continue their music and individual careers, and so that they can share a new future with their fans," wrote FNC Entertainment.

5. Mina Speaks Out About Bullying

credit: Instagram.com/kvwowv

Shocking facts are revealed one year after Mina's departure from AOA. Although the agency's official statement stated that Mina did not extend her contract because she wanted to 'realize her new dream', it seems that there is another reason that prompted this 26-year-old woman to separate from the group that made her name.

Through her personal Instagram account, Mina speaks out about her experience of being bullied by fellow AOA members during her 10 years in the entertainment industry, in response to the numerous DMs from netizens asking her to end her life.

Mina revealed that the words spoken by one of the 'unnie' in AOA always left a mark on her heart to the point where she had to take sedatives. She also often attempted suicide by cutting her arms when she remembered the bitter memories in her life.

6. Jimin's Response to Bullying Allegations

credit: Instagram.com/jiminbaby

After Mina's confession was uploaded on Instagram, many fans speculated that the 'unnie' bully mentioned was Jimin. This is because it was mentioned in Mina's lengthy explanation that the perpetrator's father recently passed away. Jimin's father passed away just last April.

Jimin briefly posted a story on Instagram with a black background and the word 'fiction' written on it, which was deleted shortly after. Jimin's Instagram was flooded with questions from netizens about the truth of the story shared by Mina. Many netizens also expressed their disappointment in Jimin if the story turned out to be true.

Until now, FNC Entertainment has not given any response regarding this issue. Meanwhile, Mina's new agency stated that they are currently monitoring their artists who are using medication to manage anxiety.

(kpl/rsp)