ENTERTAINMENT
T-ara's Jiyeon and Baseball Player Hwang Jae-gyun Confirm Divorce Amidst Speculation
The reason behind the rumors has been revealed. Former T-ara member Jiyeon and professional baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun's divorce rumors spread after commentator Lee Kwang-gil's off-the-record comments were broadcast during a baseball game. Although Lee later apologized, admitting his mistake, the divorce was indeed true.
On the 5th, Jiyeon expressed her regret, stating, "I apologize for greeting you with unfortunate news. We have mutually agreed to proceed with divorce mediation. We ask for your understanding for not addressing this sooner and will strive to present a better image in the future." Her legal representative, Choi Yuna from Taesung Law Firm, confirmed, "Both parties could not overcome their differences and have agreed to divorce after separation, filing for mediation at the Seoul Family Court." They also requested restraint from sensational reporting and speculative comments.
Jiyeon and Hwang Jae-gyun married in December 2022, sharing their affectionate newlywed life on platforms like YouTube. However, divorce rumors surfaced in June when a conversation during a KNN radio baseball broadcast was accidentally aired. Commentator Lee Kwang-gil mentioned, "Isn't Hwang Jae-gyun divorced? There's a reason for his poor performance; his home life is chaotic." Although the caster clarified it was hearsay, the broadcast had already aired.
Despite the rumors, neither Jiyeon nor Hwang confirmed or denied them, with close associates dismissing the divorce rumors as false. Yet, the rumors resurfaced when Jiyeon posted T-ara's hit song "Lies" for their 15th anniversary, and photos of Hwang at a late-night gathering circulated on social media, fueling speculation. A source commented, "Hwang is a senior player in KT Wiz during a crucial season, and his presence at a mixed-gender gathering until 6 AM was concerning." Jiyeon, who had paused her YouTube uploads, returned with a video on September 20, showing signs of discord. In the "T-ara 15th Anniversary Fan Meeting Preview" video, Jiyeon was seen without her wedding ring.
Similarly, Hwang, who usually wore a necklace with his wedding ring during games, was seen without it since June. The delay in announcing their divorce has raised questions, with speculation that Hwang's baseball career played a role. The rumors emerged during the 2024 KBO regular season, and KT Wiz, Hwang's team, is still competing in the postseason. It is suggested that Hwang wanted to avoid disrupting the team's atmosphere with personal issues. Hwang signed a four-year, 6 billion won contract in 2022, making him a key player. However, his postseason performance has been disappointing, with no hits and four strikeouts in three games, adding to his personal turmoil. Currently, Jiyeon has deleted all Instagram posts and YouTube videos featuring Hwang, while Hwang's Instagram account is closed. Fans are saddened by the news that the once sweet newlyweds are now going their separate ways.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr