"Unable to Endure Team Bullying and Harassment, Attempted Extreme Choice"…Former Girl Group Member's Sibling Reveals

Group UNI.T's Hyunju is posing at a press conference held on May 14, 2018, at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Former member Lee Hyun-joo of the group April has been accused of experiencing bullying and ostracism within the team.

On the afternoon of the 28th, a post was uploaded on an online community by a person claiming to be Lee Hyun-joo’s younger sibling, identified as A. A authenticated the post with a resident registration certificate and photos taken with Lee Hyun-joo, and posted a lengthy message.

A stated, "I am the younger sibling of Lee Hyun-joo, a former member of April," and added, "For years, I have wanted to reveal the truth but held back for my sister’s future. However, now I feel the need to speak up courageously, so I am writing this."

They continued, "It is known that my sister left April to pursue acting, but that is not true," and explained, "She suffered severe bullying and ostracism within the group, which caused her great distress including panic disorder and breathing difficulties. Eventually, she attempted an extreme act."

Furthermore, "After she left the team, the company sent her a letter stating that she was leaving to pursue acting and told her to write exactly that," A said, expressing frustration, "After writing that letter, my sister was labeled as someone who betrayed the team for her own benefit and received very hurtful malicious comments."

In the article, the writer Mr. A revealed that his biological older sister, Lee Hyun-joo, was forced to leave the group against her will due to bullying within the group.
/Photo by Online Community Capture

A added, "Even after her departure, she never received an apology from the members, and when our mother visited the company, the team members just laughed and walked by," and stated, "My sister is still working hard at her career. That is why she endured it, fearing damage to her image. But I can no longer watch the members who act as if they did nothing wrong, so I am speaking out."

A concluded, "I no longer want to see these members active. I hope they stop appearing on TV and reminding our family of those times, and I do not want to see my sister struggling anymore."

Currently, April and Lee Hyun-joo’s agency, DSP Media, have not made any special statements.

Previously, Lee Hyun-joo debuted in 2015 as a member of the girl group April but announced her departure a year later. Three years after that, in 2018, she appeared on KBS2TV’s 'Idol Rebooting Project The Unit,' finishing in 5th place and promoting as part of the group UNI.T.