T-ara member and actress Jiyeon has confirmed her divorce from professional baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding their relationship.
Jiyeon is set to make her first public appearance since the news broke at T-ara’s 15th-anniversary fan meeting in Macau on the 7th. Although the group has been on hiatus since releasing their 2021 album Re:T-ARA, Jiyeon will reunite with fellow members Ham Eun Jung, Hyomin, and Qri to greet their overseas fans in celebration of the milestone.
Jiyeon and Hwang Jae Gyun, who tied the knot in December 2022, filed for divorce in September, submitting an official divorce mediation request to the Seoul Family Court. Rumors of their split first surfaced in June after a radio broadcast mentioned the couple’s separation. Although Jiyeon initially denied the claims, rumors continued to swirl after Hwang Jae Gyun was seen out late at night, and Jiyeon was spotted without her wedding ring.
On the 5th of October, Jiyeon officially confirmed the divorce, and Hwang Jae Gyun released a statement the same day, saying, “After much consideration, we have agreed to divorce due to irreconcilable differences. We have already filed for mediation with the Seoul Family Court and intend to finalize the process smoothly.”
Jiyeon has enlisted the services of well-known divorce attorney Choi Yoo Na, who also gained recognition as the writer for the SBS drama Good Partner. Choi, a seasoned lawyer with 13 years of experience, has made multiple appearances on variety and radio shows.
Through her lawyer, Jiyeon expressed her regret, stating, “I’m sorry to greet everyone with such unfortunate news. We have mutually agreed to proceed with the divorce mediation process.” She added, “I apologize for not addressing the rumors sooner, and I ask for your understanding. I will work hard to return with better news in the future.”
