AOA Mina Bullying Scandal... Need for System to Prevent Idol 'Exclusion' [Kim Gayeon's Perspective Twist]

AOA Bullying Allegations Controversy Continues... Growing Public Criticism
Some Claim "Bullying Is a Social Issue, Prevention Measures Needed"
Experts Say "Bullying Can Occur in Any Group... Psychological Support Measures Required"

Former AOA group member and actress Kwon Mina / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Actress Kwon Mina (Mina), who left the group AOA, has revealed that she was bullied for 10 years by the group's leader Shin Ji-min (Jimin), sparking ongoing controversy surrounding bullying issues within the group.

In particular, responsibility is being called into question after Mina recently posted photos implying a suicide attempt while naming members and others involved. Criticism is mounting against the agency, which is supposed to protect its artists, for failing to fulfill its duties and neglecting the bullying within the group.

Some voices are calling for the establishment of related systems to prevent such issues from recurring. Experts emphasize that bullying in idol groups is not a unique situation and that appropriate systems must be put in place.

On the 3rd of last month, Mina pointed to Jimin as the perpetrator of continuous bullying within the group over the past 10 years through her Instagram. Initially, Jimin expressed her frustration by posting a message titled "Novel" on her SNS, but as the controversy spread, she apologized to Mina, announced her withdrawal from AOA, and declared she would cease all entertainment activities.

Even after Jimin left the group, the controversy has continued for over a month. Recently, Mina targeted member Kim Seol-hyun (Seolhyun) and Han Sung-ho, the former CEO of FNC Entertainment, accusing them of being "bystanders," which further intensified the fallout.

On the 8th, Mina posted a photo on her Instagram implying a suicide attempt, saying, "I will go to a happy place. It is too painful here." She then mentioned Jimin, Seolhyun, and CEO Han, claiming they were "people who drove a perfectly healthy person to death." It was reported that Mina was transported to the emergency room and received treatment that day.

Group AOA member Seolhyun / Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, criticism against Seolhyun and others has intensified. Netizens are urging Seolhyun to apologize through SNS and portal sites and are demanding her withdrawal from the drama "Day and Night," which she is currently filming.

Some argue that criticism and demands for countermeasures should focus on the agency rather than individual AOA members. As the domestic entertainment industry, including idols, expands and trainees and debut ages decrease, there is a call to establish and improve physical and emotional safety nets.

Although the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism established the "Standard Annex Agreement for Youth Popular Culture Artists" last March to protect the rights of young popular culture artists, psychological welfare aspects remain insufficient.

Furthermore, there is concern that bullying within idol groups should not be perceived as a special case. Considering it special may lead to blaming individuals alone and hinder social consensus on countermeasures. Bullying in idol groups is akin to serious social issues like bullying in schools and workplaces, as the group is both a social unit and a workplace for idols.

Experts suggest that psychological protection and support for idols and entertainers in Korea are inadequate and that urgent measures are needed.

Professor Kwak Geum-joo of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology explained, "Bullying can occur whenever a group forms, regardless of size, whether large or small. Bullying can include ignoring information or making dismissive remarks. It can even happen in family relationships or any group."

Professor Kwak added, "Since idol groups are groups of multiple people, bullying can occur. While the degree varies, severe cases can cause tremendous pain, depression, and even extreme choices. Moreover, as these facts become known, malicious comments worsen, potentially exacerbating the situation. In Korea, even when such incidents occur, no significant countermeasures are taken. Prevention is the most important regarding bullying within groups."

She continued, "Differences can arise during group formation, and agencies should pay the most attention to these aspects. People may hide depression or panic disorders because they do not want to disclose them. In such cases, agencies should have professional psychological support personnel and provide psychological welfare."

Last month, Jimin withdrew from the group AOA. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, AOA's agency expressed, "We hope Kwon Mina recovers her health quickly and offer our deep apologies."

On the 9th, FNC Entertainment released an official statement saying, "We deeply apologize for the delay in expressing our position and for not paying closer attention to the relationships among members." They added, "We have repeatedly deliberated and hesitated to clearly convey our stance on this matter."

"The members have also been living with daily frustration due to criticism and misunderstandings. We were aware of the criticism. During this process, we judged that publicly refuting and clarifying every accusation would only generate sensational issues and not help resolve the situation. We also discouraged individual AOA members from posting about it," the statement said.

"Although Kwon Mina asked our staff about Jimin's future activities, we did not respond because Jimin had already expressed to us her intention to cease entertainment activities and live as a private citizen. We hoped to avoid unnecessary remarks again," they added. "We pray for Kwon Mina's speedy recovery and will strive for an amicable resolution."

However, the agency did not comment on Mina's accusations labeling CEO Han and others as "bystanders."