T-ara (; ) is a South Korean
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring two or more women in music, female singers who generally vocal harmony, harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female p ...
formed in 2009, currently consisting of four members:
Qri,
Eunjung,
Hyomin
Park Sun-young (; born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin (), is a South Korean singer and actress, known for her work as a member of South Korean girl group T-ara. Apart from her group's activities, Hyomin has also starred in variou ...
, and
Jiyeon. T-ara's career is marked by
hook-heavy dance-pop
Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
music, a result of their close partnership with composer
Shinsadong Tiger.
A broad array of visual concepts have earned the group a "chameleon-like" reputation. The group has achieved commercial success in several regions in Asia including South Korea and China, with their single "
Roly-Poly" (2011) being one of the
most downloaded domestic singles since 2010 and the most downloaded girl group single to date.
T-ara made their debut with the single "
Lies" in 2009. Their debut studio album ''
Absolute First Album'' (2009) was well received critically and spawned the hit singles "
TTL (Time to Love)", "
Bo Peep Bo Peep", and "
You Drive Me Crazy". Both their debut Japanese single and
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
reached number one on the
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
weekly charts and were subsequently certified gold. They subsequently gained nationwide recognition after releasing "Roly-Poly" (2011) which went on to become the
Gaon chart's best-selling single of the year. T-ara signed onto Japanese management agency J-Rock for $4.7 million—reportedly the highest figure of any Korean girl group expanding into the territory at the time.
T-ara's Korean EP ''
Black Eyes'' (2011) spawned three consecutive number ones: "
Cry Cry", "
We Were in Love" and "
Lovey-Dovey".
In 2012, T-ara experienced a dip in popularity as the group faced accusations of internal discord, resulting in Hwayoung's immediate departure with Areum following a year after. T-ara's later material was released to varying degrees of success before the group began focusing on promotional activities in China, where they attracted attention for their cover of Chopstick Brothers' "Little Apple" (2014). T-ara's final release as six members was tentatively scheduled for May 2017, ahead of
Soyeon and
Boram's expiring contracts; however, conflicts with their management delayed ''
What's My Name?'' until June 2017, effectively ending their involvement. After a four-year hiatus,
T-ara reunited and released their first independent single album, ''
Re:T-ara'', in 2021. T-ara has sold 1.14 million physical albums as of December 2020 and over 34 million digital singles, making them among the
best-selling girl groups in total record sales.
Name

The group's name, T-ara, is based on the English word for "
tiara
A tiara (, ) is a head ornament adorned with jewels. Its origins date back to ancient Greco-Roman world. In the late 18th century, the tiara came into fashion in Europe as a prestigious piece of jewelry to be worn by women at formal occasions ...
". The name T-ara stems from the idea that they will become the "queens of the music industry". This later inspired their official fandom name, Queens.
History
2009–2010: Formation, debut and breakthrough
The original pre-debut five T-ara members (Jiae,
Jiwon,
Eunjung,
Hyomin
Park Sun-young (; born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin (), is a South Korean singer and actress, known for her work as a member of South Korean girl group T-ara. Apart from her group's activities, Hyomin has also starred in variou ...
and
Jiyeon) trained together for nearly three years under
Mnet Media
Stone Music Entertainment (Hangul: 스톤 뮤직 엔터테인먼트), is a South Korean music distribution company under CJ ENM, as part of a partnership with the music streaming store Genie Music since 2021. It was one of the largest co-publish ...
.
In April 2009, they released their pre-debut song "
Good Person" for the ''
Cinderella Man'' soundtrack. The song is a remake of SG Wannabe's soundtrack of the same name. It reached the top 50 positions on multiple streaming platforms as well as the top soundtrack charts.
Jiyeon teamed up with labelmates
SeeYa
SeeYa (Hangul: 씨야) was a South Korean girl group originally made up of Kim Yeon-ji, Lee Bo-ram, and Nam Gyu-ri. When the group debuted in 2006, they were marketed as the female version of SG Wannabe. SeeYa were known for their 2007 hit son ...
and
Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008, consists of Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung.
The duo has released three studio albums and six extended plays to date, and featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as ''Big'' ...
for a collaboration single titled "
Women's Generation", which was released in May 2009. The single achieved nationwide success and became the group's first Top 3 single on the charts.
In June 2009, Mnet Media announced that Jiae and Jiwon would be leaving T-ara due to differences in music style. The first new member to be added to the group was
Boram, the daughter of singer Jeon Young-rok and actress
Lee Mi-young.
Soyeon, a former trainee of
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...
who was supposed to be a main vocalist and the leader of
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piec ...
,
and
Qri, a famous top
Ulzzang at the time, were added to T-ara three weeks prior to debut. In early July 2009, the group was moved from Mnet Media to its subsidiary company
Core Contents Media.
T-ara made their debut on
MBC's ''
Radio Star
Stellar radio sources, radio source stars or radio stars are stellar objects that produce copious emissions of various radio frequency, radio frequencies, whether constant or pulsed. Radio emissions from stars can be produced in many varied ways. ...
'' talk show on July 29, 2009, which was unusual for Korean artists who usually debuted on music programs instead. Their first performance was on
Mnet's ''
M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leeteuk ...
'' on July 30, where they performed "
Lies" and b-side track "Wanna Play?" from their debut single. On July 30, CCM announced that the group received 13 invitations to variety shows only a day after debut. All tracks from the single debuted on online streaming platforms' top 100 charts, while "Lies", peaked at number five on
MelOn
A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. It can also specifically refer to ''Cucumis melo'', commonly known as the "true melon" or simply "melon". The term "melon" can apply to both the p ...
.
In September 2009, Eunjung, Soyeon, Hyomin and Jiyeon collaborated with labelmates Kwangsu, Jihyuk, and Geonil of
Supernova
A supernova (: supernovae or supernovas) is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. A supernova occurs during the last stellar evolution, evolutionary stages of a massive star, or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion ...
for the single "
TTL (Time to Love)". It was released on September 15, 2009, and became both groups' first number one song as all Korean online charts. T-ara and Supernova collaborated again for "
TTL Listen 2", an alternate version of "TTL (Time to Love)", which was released on October 9, 2009, and included all the members from both groups.
T-ara released their debut studio album, ''
Absolute First Album'', on November 27, 2009. In order to determine the album's title track, Core Contents Media held a survey in which the public had to choose between "
Bo Peep Bo Peep" or "Like the First Time". 9,000 people took the survey on various music portals with 53% (4,770 people) choosing "Like The First Time" over "Bo Peep Bo Peep". However, the latter was promoted on music shows instead for unknown reasons. "Bo Peep Bo Peep" peaked at number four on the ''
Gaon'' chart, while "Like The First" peaked at number ten. They held their comeback performance on ''
Music Bank'' on December 4, 2009. At the
24th Golden Disk Awards, T-ara was awarded Rookie of the Year along with
4minute
4Minute (, often stylized in all caps) was a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment, consisting of members Jihyun, Gayoon, Jiyoon, Hyuna and Sohyun. The group was known for its edgy dance-pop style and " girl crush" image t ...
.
The group won their first-ever music show award with "Bo Peep Bo Peep" on the New Year's Day episode of ''Music Bank''. The song went on to win five awards in total: two on ''Music Bank'' and three on ''
Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' (; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform on stage. ...
'', earning them their first "Triple Crown". Later in January 2010, the group announced promotions for their b-side track, "Like The First Time", which ended quickly as Soyeon was diagnosed with
H1N1
Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A/H1N1) is a subtype of influenza A virus (IAV). Some human-adapted strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and are one cause of seasonal influenza (flu). Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs ( swine influen ...
. The same month, T-ara made a cameo appearance on the seventh and eight episodes of ''
God of Study'', in which Jiyeon played a main role.
In February 2010, the group announced a
re-release
In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Reasons for reissue
New audio formats
Reco ...
of their debut album under the title ''
Breaking Heart''. The lead single, "
You Drive Me Crazy" and b-side track "I'm Really Hurt", were digitally released on February 23, 2010, and peaked at number one and number thirty-one on the ''
Gaon'' chart, respectively.
T-ara held their comeback performance on the same day on ''
M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leeteuk ...
'', and won several music awards for "You Drive Me Crazy" over the course of their promotions: two consecutive Mutizen wins on ''
Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' (; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform on stage. ...
'' and one first place award on ''M Countdown''. ''Breaking Heart'' was released physically on March 3, 2010, peaking at number two on the weekly ''Gaon'' chart and number thirty-five on the yearly chart; selling 40,695 copies.
After promotions for "You Drive Me Crazy" ended, T-ara performed "I'm Really Hurt" on music shows until early April 2010. In June 2010, the group donated all the proceeds of the
World Cup
A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the name is ...
merchandise sold on their online clothing shop T-ara Dot Com to a charity for African children. On July 16, 2010, T-ara representatives announced the addition of
Hwayoung Ryu as the seventh member of the group. The reason given was that with so many solo projects, they would be able to have a more complete lineup for T-ara when individual members were filming or doing other appearances. They also stated that it would allow the members to undertake more solo activities, and would give them all some relief from their heavy schedules. "You Drive Me Crazy" ended up being the third best selling girl group song of the year, several other T-ara songs were also placed at Gaon's year-end singles.
In November 2010, the group was in the third season of the reality show ''
Hello Baby'', in which they took care of
Moon Mason and his two brothers. T-ara released the digital download for "
Wae Ireoni", the lead single for their first extended play, ''
Temptastic'', on November 23, 2010. ''Temptastic'' was released in digital format on December 1, 2010, along with their second single, "
Yayaya". The album's physical release was delayed until December 3 due to the
bombardment of Yeonpyeong earlier in November 2010.
T-ara held their first comeback performance through ''Music Bank'' on December 3 and began promotions with their new seventh member,
Hwayoung, and new leader, Boram, and received two consecutive wins for "Wae Ireoni" and "Yayaya" on ''M Countdown''.
2011–2012: International expansion and bullying controversy

T-ara's second EP ''
John Travolta Wannabe'' was released on June 29, 2011. It charted at number three on the Gaon Album Chart and has sold 30,116 copies as of 2011.
The EP's only single, "
Roly-Poly", peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart and number one on the
Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart. The single became a breakthrough success, becoming the top-grossing and highest-selling single of 2011 in South Korea with over four digital million units sold. "Roly-Poly" was awarded Best Music Video at the
3rd Melon Music Awards and Singer of the Year (July) at the
1st Gaon Chart Awards, and was nominated Best Dance Performance by a Female Group and Song of the Year at the
13th Mnet Asian Music Awards.
The group released a limited edition
re-issue of ''John Travolta Wannabe'', titled ''Roly-Poly in Copacabana'', on August 2, 2011.
It featured an alternate version of "Roly Poly" ,"Roly-Poly in Copacabana", is a
Eurodance
Eurodance (sometimes referred to as Euro-NRG) is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of Hip-hop, rap, techno and Eurodisco. This genre of music is heavily influenced by the use ...
remix of "Roly-Poly", named after the song "
Copacabana" which was popularized in the 80's in
Jongno disco clubs.
[ The album peaked at number three, while the single peaked at number forty and forty-five on the ''Gaon'' and ''Billboard'' Korea K-Pop Hot 100 charts. The group began follow up promotions for the remixed single on '' Music Bank''. T-ara released their debut Japanese single " Bo Peep Bo Peep" on September 28,] which peaked at number one on the ''Oricon'' weekly singles chart with over copies sold,[ making them the first non-Japanese girl group to rank at number one for a debut single in ''Oricon'' history. The single peaked at number one on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100, and was certified Gold by the RIAJ for both full-length cellphone downloads and PC downloads.
]
In November 2011, T-ara released their third extended play '' Black Eyes'' which charted at number two on the ''Gaon'' charts. The album was preceded by the release of " Cry Cry", which peaked at number one on the ''Billboard Korea'' K-Pop Hot 100 and won two consecutive first-place awards on ''M Countdown''. The music video for "Cry Cry" was noted for having a billion South Korean won
The South Korean won (symbol: ₩; code: KRW; ) is the official currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and it appears only in foreign exchange ...
production budget and a thirty-minute drama story line. The group released their second Japanese single, a remake of " Yayaya" from their '' Temptastic'' EP, on November 30. The single peaked at number seven on the ''Oricon'' charts and number six on the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' Japan Hot 100
The ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100 is a record chart in Japan for songs. It has been compiled by ''Billboard Japan'' and Hanshin Contents Link since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at Billboard-japan.com ( JST) and every Thursday ...
.
In December 2011, Core Contents Media announced that T-ara's third leader Hyomin
Park Sun-young (; born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin (), is a South Korean singer and actress, known for her work as a member of South Korean girl group T-ara. Apart from her group's activities, Hyomin has also starred in variou ...
would be passing on her leadership to Soyeon. The group performed a three-day mini-concert tour titled X-mas Premium Live, that was held at the Shinagawa Stella Hall in Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, the Zepp
The Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music venues covering every area of the country. They play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in whic ...
in Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
, and the Zepp in Osaka
is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
. T-ara rose to become the second biggest girl group in Korea in 2011 by ranking at number eight on the Gallup Korea
Gallup Korea () or Gallup Korea Research Institute () is a South Korean research company. Founded by Park Moo-ik in 1974, the company became a member of Gallup International Association in 1997. It is best known for conducting public surveys o ...
poll. T-ara and Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008, consists of Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung.
The duo has released three studio albums and six extended plays to date, and featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as ''Big'' ...
released their Christmastide
Christmastide, also known as Christide, is a season of the liturgical year in most Christianity, Christian churches.
For the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church and some Orthodox Churches, Christmastide begins ...
ballad, "We Were in Love" on December 23, 2011; it was later included on T-ara's ''Funky Town'' re-release album. The single reached number one on the '' Gaon'' Chart and peaked at number two on the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' Korea K-Pop Hot 100. Both groups performed the song weekly on SBS's ''Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' (; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform on stage. ...
.'' In November 2011, CCM announced that T-ara will not be attending any year-end award ceremonies due to their heavy schedules in and outside South Korea, which resulted in the group's immediate elimination from most of the country's award nomination lists.
T-ara re-released ''Black Eyes'' under the title '' Funky Town'' on January 3, 2012. The album peaked at number one on the ''Gaon'' weekly album chart and number two on the monthly album chart, selling 76.749 copies. " Lovey-Dovey" was released as the second single from the album, which peaked at number one on both the ''Gaon'' and ''Billboard Korea'' K-pop Hot 100 charts. The single has sold more than 3 million digital copies in South Korea alone. In February, Forbes Korea, in celebration of their ninth year of establishment, reported the year's list of the "Top 40 Power Celebrities". T-ara ranked on the list at number seventeen, thus making them as the third most powerful girl group and the seventh most powerful female celebrity in Korea.
On June 14, 2012, Core Contents Media introduced 18-year-old Areum as the new ''maknae'' (, youngest member). On May 23, T-ara released "Round & Round", a remake of Nami's 1984 hit. The song received both critical and commercial success becoming the group's seventh top ten hit in South Korea since 2010. It received generally positive reviews from critics praising T-ara for bringing it a new fresh sound. It was selected by ''SPIELTIMES'' as one of the best K-Pop remakes.
The group released their first Japanese album '' Jewelry Box'' on June 6, 2012. The album debuted at number two on the ''Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
'' weekly albums chart with sales of over 57,000 copies. The album was later certified Gold by RIAJ for physical sales shipments. They embarked on their first Japanese concert tour T-ara Japan Tour 2012: Jewelry Box in Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
on June 19; the tour's attendance was expected to exceed 40,000 people. On July 3, T-ara released their fourth extended play, '' Day by Day'', which charted at number five on the ''Gaon'' chart. The title track, " Day by Day", was released as a single on the same day, peaking at number two. The first comeback performance for "Day by Day" was held on July 7, 2012, on ''Music Core'', which was backed by a 70-person orchestra and featured the stage debut of the group's eighth member, Areum.
On July 25-26, T-ara held a concert in Japan where Hwayoung performed only one song due to an alleged leg injury. Afterward, Hyomin tweeted, "There are differences in levels of determination. Let us have more determination," which the other members supported. Hwayoung responded, "Sometimes, even determination alone is not enough... God, you know everything right?". Her sister Hyoyoung added, "My better half is suffering. My heart hurts.". These tweets led to speculation of conflict within the group, sparking a major controversy and backlash against the members.
On July 30, Core Contents Media announced Hwayoung's departure after 1 year and 8 months, citing staff complaints and denying the bullying rumors. Despite both sides stating there was no bullying, public opinion overwhelmingly supported Hwayoung, leading to T-ara temporarily suspending activities.
It was announced that there would be no changes to T-ara's upcoming comeback; however, their agency later took the statement back and announced that their comeback would be postponed indefinitely. Their ''Day by Day'' extended play re-issue, ''Mirage'', was eventually released on September 3, 2012. The title track "Sexy Love
"Sexy Love" is a song by American R&B singer Ne-Yo, released on June 6, 2006, as the fourth and final US single, as well as the second and final international single from his debut studio album, ''In My Own Words'' (2006). The song peaked at nu ...
" and the promotional singe "Day and Night", were released from the album on the same day, with "Sexy Love" peaking at number four on the ''Gaon'' charts and number three on the ''Billboard Korea'' K-pop Hot 100 charts. "Day and Night" was a collaboration single featuring T-ara's Areum with Gun-ji of Gavy NJ
''Gavy NJ'' () is a South Korean R&B female trio debuted in 2005. The trio had undergone multiple lineup changes and currently hold audition to formed new formations.
In 2006, their original label Goodberry Entertainment formed seven-members pr ...
and Shannon.
On September 10, 2012, it was announced that the group would release a best of album in Japan consisting of all of their Korean singles to date (excluding "Day by Day" and "Sexy Love") in celebration of one year since their Japanese debut. The album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
was eventually released on October 10. On September 26, T-ara released the Japanese version of "Day by Day", which is mainly composed of scenes from their Korean music videos for that song. In October, T-ara released the Japanese version of "Sexy Love" and shortly after, the group departed to Japan to promote for their upcoming single.
In September 2012, T-ara was offered in funding for an Asia tour including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. With 20 stops, the tour was set with concerts in arenas with 10,000–20,000 seats adding up to over 150,000 in total attendance.
2013–2014: Subunits, ''Again'', and ''And & End''
T-ara released their sixth Japanese single "Bunny Style!
is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. The single was released on March 20, 2013 as their last release under EMI Music Japan. "Bunny Style!" debuted at number 2 on Oricon and at number 3 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 singles. It is T-ara's seco ...
" on March 20, 2013. The A-side "Bunny Style!" is their first single composed specifically for the Japanese market. The single featured a solo song by each one of the members. To promote the single, the group held special showcases in 10 Japanese cities, starting on February 20, 2013, at the Sapporo Factory Atrium and ending on March 9, 2013, at the Seagull Square in Nagasaki. The tour reportedly attracted 100,000 attendees. The single was later nominated for Single of the Year at the 2013 Tower Records Awards. On April 1, 2013, T-ara's Japanese label, EMI Music Japan
, formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. Wh ...
, was absorbed into Universal Music Japan, became defunct as a company and was renamed to EMI Records Japan. All of T-ara's further Japanese promotions were to be done through Universal Music Japan.
In early April 2013, it was announced that T-ara would be forming a sub-unit with members Eunjung, Hyomin
Park Sun-young (; born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin (), is a South Korean singer and actress, known for her work as a member of South Korean girl group T-ara. Apart from her group's activities, Hyomin has also starred in variou ...
, Jiyeon, and Areum called T-ara N4. This is a shortened form of 'T-ara Brand New 4', signifying the transformation of the four members. The sub-unit debuted on April 29, 2013, with the song " Jeon Won Diary", produced by Duble Sidekick
Duble Sidekick () is a South Korean music producer
A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job i ...
. T-ara performed at the Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally built for the inaugural Olympic judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics. The Budokan was a popular venue for Japanese professional wres ...
on July 13, 2013, to celebrate the release of their second Japanese album ''Treasure Box
''Treasure Box'' (1996) is a horror novel by American writer Orson Scott Card. It takes place in modern-day America.
Plot introduction
The plot details a middle-aged man, Quentin Fears (pronounced "fierce"), who marries a woman who turns out ...
'' due August 7, 2013. The title for ''Treasure Box'' was revealed on June 15, 2013, along with the album's track list of thirteen songs. The group's concept for the album was . T-ara released the music video "Painkiller" as a digital single song. The song was a collaboration with T-ara, Davichi, See Ya, 5dolls and Speed. Jiyeon appeared as the main character in the music video.
On July 10, 2013, it was confirmed with a video released by Core Contents Media that Areum would be leaving the group to pursue a solo career "towards the beginning of next year". At their Budokan Concert, it was announced that Qri would be the new leader of T-ara. On September 15, Core Contents Media announced that T-ara would hold their long-awaited Korean comeback on October 10. Before their comeback, T-ara, together with Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008, consists of Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung.
The duo has released three studio albums and six extended plays to date, and featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as ''Big'' ...
, SPEED
In kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a non-negative scalar quantity. Intro ...
and The SeeYa held a concert in Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...
, which attracted a crowd of 20,000 people. On October 6, T-ara performed " Number 9" for the first time at "Hallyu Dream Concert".along with "Sexy Love". "Number Nine" was released with T-ara's mini album '' Again'' on October 10.The Japanese version of "Number Nine" was released on 20 November 2013. The single peaked at first on the weekly USEN chart in Japan. "You Gave Me Guidance", a track from the single, was chosen as the soundtrack for the Japanese movie '' Jinx!!!.''
T-ara had a Korean comeback on December 2 with a repackage of ''Again'', named ''Again 1977''. It featured the bonus track "Do You Know Me" along with a ballad version of the song. Their concept for this comeback and music video was broadway-inspired with retro style. On December 13, T-ara released a Christmas song, " Hide & Seek". T-ara was ranked seventh as the group with most number one hit songs on digital music charts in the past decade with 13 songs, despite debuting 4.5 years ago. Reportedly, the group made over US$18.5 million in revenue in 2013 alone, ranking second among girl group, behind Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piec ...
and 6th overall among South Korean artists.
On January 19, 2014, T-ara had their second concert in Chengdu
Chengdu; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ; Chinese postal romanization, previously Romanization of Chinese, romanized as Chengtu. is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a ...
, China, one out of five concerts they planned to stage in China the same year. On February 14, T-ara held a joint concert with label-mates Speed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia which attracted over 3,000 fans. On 19 February CCM released a music video for a promotional track from Cho Young Soo's All Star Project with the single titled as "First Love" sung by Hyomin, Jiyeon and Soyeon featuring rapper EB. T-ara had a Japanese comeback with the double A-side single " Lead The Way" and "LA'booN" on March 5, and their third Japanese album '' Gossip Girls'' was released on May 14.
On September 11, T-ara's sixth mini album '' And & End'' was released along with the music video for the title track " Sugar Free" and 3 other alternate versions of the video. The song was inspired by EDM and is part of the Big Room subgenre of electro house
Electro house is a genre of electronic dance music and a subgenre of house music characterized by heavy bass and a tempo around 125–135 beats per minute. The term has been used to describe the music of many ''DJ Mag'' Top 100 DJs, including ...
music. On September 24, a remix album was released called ''EDM CLUB Sugar Free Edition''. It included an English version of "Sugar Free", which was the first song T-ara had recorded in English. On October 13, T-ara became the first South Korean girl group to sign with a Chinese management company. The group signed a 5 billion KRW (~US$4.8 million) contract with Longzhen Culture Development. A press conference was held in Beijing to commemorate the event. Over 100 media outlets have applied to cover the event. The company estimated that the group would bring over 16 billion KRW (~US$15.4 million) in yearly profit. On November 24, T-ara released a Korean cover of " Little Apple" by Chopstick Brothers, as well as a music video. It featured Jiyeon, Eunjung, Qri, and Hyomin, as well as Seunghee from F-ve Dolls and Dani. The video hit ́8 millions views in only a day and a half on Tudou, China's largest video sharing platform at the time. The song also topped Tudou's chart. On December 25, T-ara held their first domestic concert named "Dear My Family" at COEX Auditorium in Samseongdong, Seoul. In order to be close with fans and spend a meaningful time with them, the concert was small with 1,100 seats. On December 27, T-ara held their concert in Shanghai as the beginning stop of their China tour.
2015–2016: ''So Good,'' ''Remember'' and ''Great China Tour''
After their first concert in Korea, T-ara headed to Vietnam for a Fan meeting. On January 9, the group arrived at the airport, where problems occurred which resulted in scheduling changes. Nevertheless, the group's fan meeting, which took place on October 10, drew in more than 3,000 Vietnamese fans. On February 7, 2015, T-ara's Eunjung and Soyeon and labelmastes Cho Seunghee, Minkyung ( The SeeYa), Ki-O, Jongkook and Sejun (SPEED
In kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a non-negative scalar quantity. Intro ...
) released a special winter single named "TS" with the track "Don't Forget Me".
In March 2015, it was announced that T-ara would be the main performer for Malaysia's Sultan Of Johor Coronation celebrations in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...
. The event attracted 50,000 audience. On June 20, 2015, T-ara began their first China tour " Great China Tour" started from Nanjing
Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400.
Situated in the Yang ...
, Beijing
Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
and Hefei
Hefei is the Capital city, capital of Anhui, China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural center of Anhui. Its population was 9,369,881 as of the 2020 census. Its built-up (or ''metro'') area is made up of four u ...
. It was the first concert held by T-ara after signing with their new agency Banana Plan, who manages their Chinese promotions. The group performed 22 songs and sold out 4,000 tickets. The next concert on their Great China Tour was held in Guangzhou
Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...
on December 19, and sold more than 5,000 tickets – making it the second consecutive sold-out concert on the tour.
On July 17, 2015, MBK Entertainment confirmed that the group will join the summer comeback lineup in the first week of August. On August 3, 2015, T-ara's seventh extended plays, '' So Good'' with title track " So Crazy" was released. It was composed by Brave Brothers and surpassed 1 million views in 2 days. On August 13, T-ara held a press conference for their web-drama "Sweet Temptation" which features a total of 6 episodes for 6 separate stories. The drama was released in October 2015. On October 15, the website "Insider Monkey" published a list of 16 best selling girl groups of all time where T-ara was placed 10th with a total of 36.18 million sales recorded. The group then appeared on season 3 of Chinese game show ''The Brain'', making them the second Korean act to appear on this show after Kim Soo-hyun
Kim Soo-hyun (; born February 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor. He is the recipient of five Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award. Kim made his television debut in 2007 with the family sitcom ''Kimchi Che ...
, who visited the show during season 1.
On June 4, T-ara participated at the 2016 Dream Concert. The group's performance was a remix of "Bo Peep Bo Peep", "Roly Poly" and "So Crazy", which was well received by the public. As of 2016, the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper has published many items on the Korean idol stars who have had influence in the last 20 years based on a poll of 2,000 people in Korea. In the category "Top 14 Favorite Songs", T-ara ranked 14th with the song "Roly-Poly". On September 9, T-ara performed three songs for the IASGO in Seoul.
On September 11, T-ara flew to Japan for their Tokyo Fan-meeting. The "Premium Live Concert" was held the Tokyo Dome City Hall where T-ara performed seven songs and talked to their fans. T-ara performed twice during the day as the event was divided into two parts, one in the afternoon and the other in the evening. T-ara performed their song "Memories" for the first time live. On September 17, T-ara held their last Concert for their Great China Tour at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai with around 12,000 people attending, the highest figure for any South Korean girl group to date.
T-ara participated in the Busan One Asia Festival 2016 on the opening performance on October 1 and later on October 4.
Following their appearance, T-ara flew to Jeju to perform at the Jeju Olleh Duty Free Shop Concert on the 9th and performed five songs such as "Sexy Love" or "I don't want you". In October 2016, MBK Entertainment announced that T-ara would be releasing a mini-album produced by Duble Sidekick in November. T-ara's eighth extended play
An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
, ''Remember
Remember may refer to:
Film and television Film
* ''Remember'' (1926 film), an American silent drama film
* ''Remember?'' (1939 film), an American romantic comedy
* ''Remember'' (2015 film), a Canadian film by Atom Egoyan
* ''Remember?'' (201 ...
'', with lead single " TIAMO''"'' was released on November 9. The release was followed by three fan-signing events.
2017–2019: End of the bullying controversy, ''What's My Name?'' and hiatus
In February 2017, Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung appeared on ''Live Talk Show Taxi'' and revisited the controversy. While Hwayoung initially denied bullying, she now claimed she was "hated" and "bullied" by the other members. Shortly after, a former staff member alleged the twins had actually "bullied" the other members and released texts showing Hyoyoung threatening Areum with physical harm for not supporting Hwayoung.
Following this, more staff members revealed evidence of Hwayoung being disrespectful to members and stylists, and exaggerating her injury for sympathy. Although Hwayoung initially denied the claims and criticized the staffers, she later admitted the texts were real and subsequently deleted her Instagram account.
On March 6, 2017, MBK Entertainment announced that T-ara would be releasing their final album with the company in May, with Soyeon and Boram terminating their contracts after its release. Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon were to stay with the label until December 31, 2017.[ On May 7, MBK Entertainment revealed the group's plans had changed, and that the final album had been rescheduled to release in June 2017, with members Boram and Soyeon not being able to partake due to the expiry of their contracts.] On May 8, it was announced that T-ara's last performance as six-members will be in Taiwan concert on May 13.
The remaining four members continued as a group with releasing their ninth extended play
An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
and last promotional album '' What's My Name?'' on June 14, 2017. After a five-year period without receiving any awards on music shows, T-ara won first place on '' The Show'' on June 20. On November 4, the group held their first concert in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, which reportedly attracted 10,000 attendees. A portion of the ticket sales would be donated to charity in Vietnam in honor of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea.
On January 3, 2018, Hyomin took to her Instagram account to announce that she, Jiyeon, Eunjung, and Qri had decided to not renew their contracts with MBK, thus leaving the company. The company later confirmed that the group had left the company but did not state that the group had disbanded. MBK Entertainment later confirmed that they had registered a trademark for T-ara on December 28. The members officially filed documentation outlining grounds for rejection of MBK Entertainment's trademark on January 19. On August 8, MBK Entertainment trademarks for T-ara had been denied by the Trademark Act.
2020–present: Reunion, comeback with ''Re:T-ara''
On October 2, 2020, T-ara held a single reunion performance in the televised Chuseok
Chuseok (; , ), also known as Hangawi (; ; from Old Korean, "the great middle f autumn), is a major mid-autumn harvest festival and a three-day holiday in South Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunisolar calendar on the ...
of the SBS online variety program ''MMTG'', performing "Roly-Poly" and "Sexy Love". In July 2021, T-ara reunited again with an appearance on JTBC's ''Knowing Bros''. On July 29, it was announced through the group's 12th anniversary livestream that they would be making their first comeback in four years before the winter of 2021. Released in collaboration with Dingo Music, the group made their long-awaited comeback with the single album '' Re:T-ara'' on November 15, 2021. The album consists of two tracks: "ALL KILL" and "TIKI TAKA". On November 21, the group held the fan meeting "T-ARA 2021 FAN PARTY" and performed a full concert as 4 for the first time since 2017, including hits like "I Go Crazy Because Of You" and "Bo Peep Bo Peep", as well as performing their two newest songs "TIKI TAKA" and "ALL KILL". On April 22, 2022, T-ara performed and guest-starred as a group again on JTBC
JTBC (shortened from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; ; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on December 1, ...
's ''Famous Singers 2''.
On June 6, 2024, in an interview with Chinese cultural technology company "Yoocard", it was revealed that T-ara will be reuniting for activities in Shanghai
Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
from July 20 to 29. In collaboration with Yoocard, a pop-up shop opened in Shanghai as well, selling numerous types of merch, as well as debuting the group's first official lightstick. It was also revealed that T-ara will be holding multiple fan-meetings in Hong Kong and Macau in September as a celebration of the group's 15th anniversary. T-ara held their first Vietnamese fan meeting in nearly a decade on November 23, 2024. Currently, T-ara is set to perform as one of the headliners at the Ye!loo concert in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
on May 31, 2025 at the Malaysia National Hockey Stadium.
Members
Jiae and Jiwon left the group pre-debut in 2009, citing creative differences. Boram, Qri, and Soyeon were added to the group shortly before the release of their debut single, " Lies". Hwayoung joined the group on July 26, 2010, thus making T-ara a seven-member group. In 2012, Areum joined T-ara. 2012 also saw the announcement of Dani, who was supposed to become the ninth member of T-ara. However, Dani's debut with the group was cancelled due to T-ara's later bullying controversy, only reportedly joining T-ara N4 after Areum's departure in 2013, despite the sub-unit becoming inactive after their debut single. In October 2014, MBK Entertainment decided that Dani would not be part of T-ara N4 and would continue as a trainee instead.
Following the bullying controversy in July 2012, CCM announced that Hwayoung's contract was to be terminated. On July 10, 2013, T-ara returned to its original debut lineup after Areum left to pursue a solo career. T-ara then continued as a six-member group until Core Contents Media (now under MBK) announced that Soyeon and Boram were leaving the group.
Leader timeline
Sub-unit
T-ara N4
On April 12, 2013, Core Contents Media announced the launch of the group's first sub-unit, T-ara N4 (), standing for "T-ara Brand New 4", consisting of four members: Jiyeon, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Areum. T-ara had previously tried sub-units with the promotions of their sixth Japanese single "Bunny Style!
is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. The single was released on March 20, 2013 as their last release under EMI Music Japan. "Bunny Style!" debuted at number 2 on Oricon and at number 3 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 singles. It is T-ara's seco ...
", in which the B-sides were sung by units of two and three members; however, this was their first time doing formal unit activities. The group's debut song, " Jeon Won Diary" (; ''Jeon-won Ilgi''), was inspired by the 1980s drama of the same name. Produced by Duble Sidekick, it is a "funky and intense" dance song with elements of hip-hop. with the main motif of "Jeon Won Diary" being about breaking away from the same everyday routine. T-ara N4's extended play, '' Jeon Won Diary'', and the music video for the title track were released on April 29, 2013.
QBS
A Japanese sub-unit called QBS was announced in May 2013, featuring members Qri, Boram and Soyeon. The group focused on the Japanese market. The sub-unit released their debut single " Kaze no You ni" (, ''Like the Wind'') on June 26, 2013. Written and composed by Takanori Fukuta, the song is described as a refreshing pop tune with an evergreen melody that leaves a "lasting impression". To promote the single, QBS held a live show at the Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro Station, and several shops, restaurants, and department stores are located within city limits.
Transportation
At the center of Ikebukuro is ...
, Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
on June 10, 2013. The group performed "Kaze no Yō ni", along with Boram and Qri's and Soyeon's "Love Poem" from their "Bunny Style!
is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. The single was released on March 20, 2013 as their last release under EMI Music Japan. "Bunny Style!" debuted at number 2 on Oricon and at number 3 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 singles. It is T-ara's seco ...
" single, in front of 2,000 fans.
Artistry
Musical styles
T-ara's music is marked by hook-heavy dance-pop
Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
music that blend upbeat tempos with catchy choruses, which became their trademark during their early years. The group's first album '' Absolute First Album'' showcases a diverse musical style that helped define their early identity in the K-pop industry. It combines electronic, synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
, and dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded dance musi ...
with elements of pop rap
Pop rap (also known as pop hip-hop, pop hop, hip pop, melodic hip-hop or melodic rap) is a genre of music fusing the rhythm-based lyricism of hip hop with pop's preference for melodic vocals, catchy hooks, and positive lyrics on pop-like p ...
, contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B (or simply R&B) is a popular music Music genre, genre, originating from African Americans, African-American musicians in the 1980s that combines rhythm and blues with elements of Pop music, pop, Soul music, soul, funk, Hip-hop, ...
, and ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...
s. Tracks like " Bo Peep Bo Peep" and " TTL (Time to Love)" emphasize energetic beats and catchy hooks, aligning with the electronic and synth-pop trends of late 2000s K-pop. Meanwhile, songs such as "Like the First Time" explore softer, ballad-like melodies, adding depth to the album's overall sound. The album was initially criticized for "lack of identity" but was later praised for its diversity which helped define their early identity in the K-pop industry. The album along with its tracks has been included in severall yearly and all-time lists. In 2017, Jacques Peterson of ''SBS PopAsia
SBS PopAsia is an Australian digital radio station that broadcasts music, most notably from East Asia and Southeast Asia, on digital radio, online and on mobile devices. The station originated as a two-hour segment on SBS youth radio programme ...
'' "still stands as one of the best, if not the best, Korean girl group album of the past five years"''.''
Themes
Recognized for their diversity, T-ara became known for shifting styles and genres which earned them the title "chameleon of the music industry". In 2019, '' Glamour UK'' included ''So Crazy'' sailor outfits as one of the greatest fashion moments in K-pop history that helped change the fashion industry forever.
Legacy
Since their debut, T-ara has been placed in year-end lists of the top Korean artists and celebrities by numerous publications including Gallup Korea
Gallup Korea () or Gallup Korea Research Institute () is a South Korean research company. Founded by Park Moo-ik in 1974, the company became a member of Gallup International Association in 1997. It is best known for conducting public surveys o ...
, ''Forbes'' Korea, ''Forbes China'', ''Korean Wave Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
,'' '' Soribada'' etc. In 2014, ''Hankyung'' named T-ara among the groups spreading the Korean wave
The Korean Wave, or ''hallyu'' (; ), is a cultural phenomenon in which the global popularity of South Korean popular culture has dramatically risen since the 1990s. Worldwide interest in Korean culture has been led primarily by the spread of K-p ...
in China while ''Elle Men China'' named the group one of the contributors to K-pop's success and the Hallyu wave culture export abroad in 2020. In 2021, Aedan Juvat of ''Pop Wrapped'' referred to the group as "The second-generation K-pop legends" and credited them for offering "some of the catchiest dance tracks in a decade". In a series of surveys conducted by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the most popular K-pop artists globally, T-ara topped the list in Malaysia and was voted fifth in France in 2016, appeared in the top six in Vietnam in 2022 and 2024. In 2024, T-ara was ranked at number 14 in a Gallup Korea
Gallup Korea () or Gallup Korea Research Institute () is a South Korean research company. Founded by Park Moo-ik in 1974, the company became a member of Gallup International Association in 1997. It is best known for conducting public surveys o ...
survey of the most popular girl groups of the 21st century, tied with (G)I-dle
I-dle (; stylized in all lowercase), formerly known as (G)I-dle (), is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie (singer), Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Originally a se ...
.
In 2010, In an event organized by former South Korean president Lee Myung-ba, T-ara was invited to perform at the Blue House
Cheong Wa Dae (), also known as the Blue House in English, is a public park that was the former Office of the President of South Korea, executive office and residence of the president of South Korea. Located in Seoul's Jongno District, directl ...
for "2010 Republic of Korea Children's Day" with over 5,000 children reporters from the Blue House children's newspaper ''Blue Nuri'' and the national children's internet newspaper ''Edunet Children's Newspaper'' attending the event.
In 2021, Clara Ribeiro from ''Pop Matters'' credited T-ara for bringing disco to K-pop with their second mini album '' John Travolta Wannabe'' describing it as "a force to be reckoned with" and " Roly Poly" as "one of the catchiest K-pop songs ever made". In 2016, "Roly-Poly" was ranked number 14 among the best female songs chosen by the public in a '' Dong-a Ilbo'' survey of 2,000 people. In 2019, '' Glamour UK'' included ''So Crazy'' sailor outfits as one of the greatest fashion moments in K-pop history that helped change the fashion industry forever.
T-ara appeared in the top five of the most searched female artists on Google Korea from 2010 to 2012. In 2011, T-ara signed onto management agency J-Rock for $4.7 million—reportedly the highest figure of any Korean girl group expanding into the territory at the time. Reportedly, the group made over US$18.5 million in revenue in 2013 alone, ranking second among girl group, behind Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piec ...
and 6th overall among South Korean artists. In 2014, T-ara became the first South Korean girl group to sign with a Chinese management company. The group signed a 5 billion KRW (~US$4.8 million) contract with Longzhen Culture Development. Over 100 media outlets have applied to cover the press conference .The company estimated that the group would bring over 16 billion KRW (~US$15.4 million) in yearly profit. In 2013, T-ara's appearance on Shanghai TV set an all-time record of 200 million views in ratings.
Since 2009, T-ara has appeared in various fashion magazines including '' Vogue, Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan may refer to:
Internationalism
* World citizen, one who eschews traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship
* Cosmopolitanism, the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community
* Cosmopolitan ...
'', ''Ceci'', ''Marie Claire
''Marie Claire'' (stylized in all lowercase; ) is a French international monthly magazine first published in France in 1937. Since then various editions are published in many countries and languages.
The feature editions focus on women aro ...
'' and ''Elle''. They also appeared on other magazines including ''The Celebrity'', ''Big Issue'', '' Galaxy Macau'' (Macau), ''I Like (Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
)'', '' Kazz'' (Thailand) and ''Beijing Youth'' (China) along with features on Music magazines; including ''Kwave'' (South Korea, China, Japan), ''Music Bank'', ''Billboard'' and ''Tower Records
Tower Records is an international retail franchising, franchise and online music store that was formerly based in Sacramento, California, United States. From 1960 until 2006, Tower operated retail stores in the United States, which closed when ...
'' (Japan) and gaming magazines, including ''Board Game'' (China). T-ara has also appeared as in several tourist-guides and brochures promoting the Korean culture for foreign tourists including on '' Mapple Magazine'' (Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
).
Several newer idols have named T-ara as their role models and influence over the years, including Rocket Punch
Rocket Punch (; or as RCPC) was a South Korean girl group formed and managed by Woollim Entertainment in 2019. The group consisted of six members: Yeonhee, Suyun, Yunkyoung, Sohee, and Dahyun. Former member Juri Takahashi, Juri departed from th ...
, NINE.i, ICE, G-reyish, etc. In July 2021, girl group Rocket Punch
Rocket Punch (; or as RCPC) was a South Korean girl group formed and managed by Woollim Entertainment in 2019. The group consisted of six members: Yeonhee, Suyun, Yunkyoung, Sohee, and Dahyun. Former member Juri Takahashi, Juri departed from th ...
's members Yeonhee and Yunkyung cited T-ara as their role-models who inspired them to become idols after watching their performances in their hometown Gwangju
Gwangju (; ), formerly romanized as Kwangju, is South Korea's list of cities in South Korea, sixth-largest metropolis. It is a designated Special cities of South Korea, metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home ...
. Multiple girl groups have also covered T-ara's songs, such as Itzy
Itzy (; Japanese language, Japanese: イッチ; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group consists of five members: Yeji (singer), Yeji, Lia (South Korean singer), Lia, Ryujin (rapper), Ryujin, Chae ...
, Oh My Girl
Oh My Girl (, stylized in all caps or OMG) is a South Korean girl group formed by WM Entertainment. The group is composed of six members: Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Yubin and Arin (singer), Arin. Originally an eight-piece group, JinE left t ...
, Mamamoo
Mamamoo (; commonly stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed and managed by RBW (company), RBW. The group is composed of four members: Solar (singer), Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa. Known for their strong live vocals, Harm ...
, and CLASS:y.
Endorsements
A few days before debut, T-ara's agency CCM revealed that the group received a total of seven CF offers including from beverages, clothing, telecommunication, and teen cosmetics brands. In October 2009, the group signed their first commercial-film contract with Nonghyup. "Apple Song" was recorded especially for the CF and later included as "Apple is A" on the group's debut studio album '' Absolute First Album.'' The group also filmed a CF for Nene Chicken in 2009 with comedian and public figure Yoo Jae-suk
Yoo Jae-suk (; or ; born on 14 August 1972) is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including ''Infinite Challenge'', ''Running Man (South Korean TV series), R ...
. T-ara received approximately for each contract—reportedly the highest figure given to a rookie at the time.
On January 15, 2010, it was reported that the group received about from 3 CFs alone, "the best treatment in the industry" according to official reports. In 2010, the group also modeled for Mentholatum, Tedin Water Parks, and Olympus cameras. T-ara was chosen to model for Tedin Waterpark again in 2011.
In 2011, T-ara modeled in commercial films for sports brand SPRIS, electronics brand iRiver, software company Windysoft, optical store Look Optical, instant noodles brand Shin Ramyun, Crown Mountain and many others. The same year, T-ara was chosen as the new advertisement models for cosmetics brand Tony Moly. The group was expected to model for the brand in not only South Korea, but China, Japan, and other Asian countries as well.
T-ara is also the first idol group to sign a contract with online shopping mall Hi-Mart. The group reportedly earned as much as endorsing Korean fried chicken products in 2011, making it the highest paid girl group in commercial films at the time.
Internationally, T-ara was chosen in 2010 to film a CF for Gusto; one of the largest restaurant chains in Japan with over 1,000 stores nationwide for about . About 140 Japanese media officials, including TBS TV, attended the contract signing press conference. In early 2015, T-ara reportedly signed a US$1 million contract with Celucasn, a Chinese popular clothing brand with images and a short promotional video also having already been released. In November, T-ara became spokesperson for Chinese server of a multiplayer game World of Warships and released the Chinese version of " Cry Cry" as the official theme song. The group also became the face of the mobile game Dream of the Three Kingdoms. In 2016, the group became brand ambassadors in Vietnam for Pantech Korea as the company was launching new phone models.
Ambassadorships
In October 2009, T-ara became the ambassador for the "2009 Apple Day Event" in which they performed their commercial song "Apple Is A" held at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. By December 2009, T-ara were the official ambassador for both "Busan Science Museum" and the Japanese anime ''Evangelion: Breaking'' for which SS501
SS501 (currently promoting as Five O One) is a South Korean boy band consisting of five members: Kim Hyun-joong, Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, Park Jung-min (singer), Park Jung-min and Kim Hyung-jun. They debuted in 2005 with the Extended play, ...
were previously models. In June 2011, T-ara was appointed as public relations ambassadors for "National Sharing Movement" by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. The two groups attended the appointment ceremony on June 14 held at Seoul Plaza
Seoul Plaza () is a central plaza located in front of Seoul City Hall at Taepyeongno, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea. It was reopened on 1 May 2004, by Seoul Metropolitan Government, with the purpose of providing the public an open space. It ...
in Jung-gu Jung District (), meaning "Central District", is the name of a ''gu'' (district) in several South Korean cities:
*Jung District, Busan
*Jung District, Daegu
* Jung District, Daejeon
* Jung District, Incheon
*Jung District, Seoul
* Jung District, Ul ...
, Seoul.
In August 2011, T-ara were appointed as honorary public relations ambassadors for "2011 Gyeonggi Functional Game Festival". Qri and Boram represented the group by attending the appointment ceremony on August 31 where they received a plaque of appreciation from Gyeonggi Province
Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea.
Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...
governor Choi Chan-heung. Over 150 companies participated in exhibitions and export consultations for the event's third edition. In November 2015, T-ara was appointed ambassadors in respect of the establishment of business partnership between Hankyung Media Group and Sina Weibo
Weibo (), or Sina Weibo (), is a Chinese microblogging ( weibo) website. Launched by Sina Corporation on 14 August 2009, it is one of the biggest social media platforms in China, with over 582 million monthly active users (252 million daily ...
. The group attended the "2015 Hallyu Center Awards" and received the Hallyu Envoy Award.
Other ventures
Café "Page One"
T-ara launched their own café franchise called Cafe Page One that will expand into a chain of 500 nationwide stores. The name of their café was influenced from the cafe that member Eunjung ran in her drama ''Coffee House
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café (), is an establishment that serves various types of coffee, espresso, latte, Caffè americano, americano and cappuccino, among other hot beverages. Many coffeehouses in West Asia offer ''shisha'' (actually ...
''. Cafe Page One was opened on July 1, 2011, where the members were present to greet the customers. An alternate version of the song featuring vocals from original singer SG Wannabe
SG Wannabe () is a South Korean vocal group consisting of members Kim Yong-jun, Kim Jin-ho and Lee Seok-hoon. The group debuted in January 2004 with the single, "Timeless", from the album '' SG Wanna Be+'', and won Best New Artist at the Gold ...
, Ock Joo Hyun and T-ara's So-yeon was released along with a music video of T-ara on the cafe's opening day. A special limited photobook was released celebrating the opening, and it was only given to a limited number of fans who attended the opening.
T-ara Dotcom
In 2010, T-ara launched their own online shopping mall named "T-ara Dotcom" (T-ara.com). To test their entrepreneurial skills, the group held a bazaar in Gangnam
Gangnam (), sometimes referred to as the Greater Gangnam Area, is a geographic and cultural region in Seoul. While Gangnam can refer to the entire region of Seoul south of the Han River, the region is generally defined as consisting of the city ...
, Seoul
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
where they sold personal items including stage costumes. The event attracted Over 600 people in a few minutes. The group managed to raise US$2,300. The project was a huge success exceeding 600 million Won (~US$590,000) in monthly revenue. It recorded an average 500,000 daily visitors and more than 20 million won in daily sales as of June 2010 becoming the third most successful shopping malls run by a celebrity in a short period. T-ara acted as models for the mall since its opening. The store was also given its own TV show aired in February 2010. In June 2010, Core Contents Media revealed that all proceeds from all of T-ara's World Cup-related products will be donated in support of catering establishments in undeveloped areas of Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
.
Mobile apps
Since their debut, T-ara has release several mobile apps from games to info-apps. In April 2012, T-ara released "T-ara Shake", a mobile game featuring T-ara's songs. It was a commercial success topping App store
An app store, also called an app marketplace or app catalog, is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not i ...
's top grossing apps chart for days. In September 2012, T-ara released "T-ara 3D" to promote their comeback with "Sexy Love". According to Core Contents Media "T-ara 3D" was created after a two-month production period in collaboration with app developer Sunshinez. It featured member profiles, 3D images, photos, videos, news & notices, and schedules. The app was on sale on Google's Google Play Android Market and was later released on Apple App Store. "Touch Touch T-ara" content app was introduced in early 2013 by CCM. The Japanese version of the app was released in February 2013 while the Korean version launched a month later. In 2014, T-ara released their first info-app "T-ara Holic". T-ara's upcoming schedule, activities, music and products were available on the app. In June 2014, T-ara's Hyo-min's self-designed t-shirts were made available exclusively on "T-ara Holic". All products were sold-out within 24 hours.
Philanthropy
On December 22, 2009, T-ara announced that they donated 100 boxes of ramen purchased with their CF appearance fee and 50 packs of toilet paper recently received as a gift from a toilet paper company to JTS, a private international organization for hunger disease literacy. In January 2010, T-ara donated (~$10,000) to Haiti victims after the earthquake disaster. T-ara used all their variety program fees for the donation. In addition, T-ara held a fundraising event in the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul along with other artists like SG Wannabe
SG Wannabe () is a South Korean vocal group consisting of members Kim Yong-jun, Kim Jin-ho and Lee Seok-hoon. The group debuted in January 2004 with the single, "Timeless", from the album '' SG Wanna Be+'', and won Best New Artist at the Gold ...
. The said event was in hopes of gathering a larger amount of money from stars. Producers from several other companies also attended the event. In June, 2010, Core Contents Media revealed that all proceeds from all of T-ara's World Cup-related products sold on their online shopping mall "T-ara Dotcom" will be donated in support of catering establishments in undeveloped areas of Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
.
On March 11, 2012, T-ara announced through their company's representative that they donated all their profits from their latest Japanese single ''Roly Poly'' to the victims of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. In May of the same year, In May 2012, Soyeon represented T-ara and attended public interest agreement ceremony to sign an agreement with TTOMA, a drinks brand for which T-ara was a model for. Subsequently, a portion of proceeds from T-ara's personalized drinks with the brand will be donated to the Fruit of Love Foundation. In October of the same year, T-ara donated part of their performance fee to a local Korean school in Malayasia. In July, T-ara donated 0.73 tons of rice received ahead of their first fan meeting in Korea to underprivileged children and other neighbors in need.
In February 2013, T-ara donated 100 sacks of rice to an orphanage in Bucheon ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. On December 14 of the same year, the group held a charity event in Eunjung's mother's cafe, Cafenne. T-ara's old clothing, stage costumes and donations from Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008, consists of Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung.
The duo has released three studio albums and six extended plays to date, and featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as ''Big'' ...
, Ha Seokjin, Hwang Jungeum and Son Hojun were to be auctioned off. T-ara raised a total of (~US$12,000) from the sales and donated about (~$2,400) directly on the same day. On the 27th, T-ara donated the remaining (~$10,000) to the Sharing Campaign "Hope Windmill" organized by the Red Cross by directly visiting the event. T-ara said, "We are able to end the year with a warm heart thanks to the many people who took part in the charity event and we give thanks to those who helped T-ara take the steps necessary for it." In September 2014, T-ara members donated 1,500 kg of rice "Dongducheon Angel" Movement. Hyomin, Qri and Boram personally delivered the donation to "Dongducheon Angel" Headquarters and held an additional fan-sign event to celebrate the Chuseok holiday.
Controversies
Bullying scandal
On July 25-26, T-ara held a concert in Japan where Hwayoung performed only one song due to an alleged leg injury. Afterward, Hyomin tweeted, "There are differences in levels of determination. Let us have more determination," which the other members supported. Hwayoung responded, "Sometimes, even determination alone is not enough... God, you know everything right?". Her sister Hyoyoung added, "My better half is suffering. My heart hurts.". These tweets led to speculation of conflict within the group, sparking a major controversy and backlash against the members.
On July 30, Core Contents Media announced Hwayoung's departure after 1 year and 8 months, citing staff complaints and denying the bullying rumors. Despite both sides stating there was no bullying, public opinion overwhelmingly supported Hwayoung, leading to T-ara temporarily suspending activities.
In February 2017, Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung appeared on '' Live Talk Show Taxi'' and revisited the controversy. While Hwayoung initially denied bullying, she now claimed she was "hated" and "bullied" by the other members. Shortly after, a former staff member alleged the twins had actually "bullied" the other members and released texts showing Hyoyoung threatening Areum with physical harm for not supporting Hwayoung.
Following this, more staff members revealed evidence of Hwayoung being disrespectful to members and stylists, and exaggerating her injury for sympathy. Although Hwayoung initially denied the claims and criticized the staffers, she later admitted the texts were real and subsequently deleted her Instagram account.
Legal
In August 2010, '' Voice of the people'' newspaper reported that the operator of T-ara's fan cafe embezzled money after collecting it from members. The embezzled amount is reported to have ranged from several million to 10 million won.
On April 13, 2012, T-ara was supposed to hold a concert in the United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
with Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008, consists of Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung.
The duo has released three studio albums and six extended plays to date, and featured on several soundtracks for television dramas such as ''Big'' ...
and Yangpa
Lee Eun-jin (; born March 17, 1979), better known by her stage name Yangpa (, lit. ''Onion''), is a South Korean singer. She debuted in 1996 with the hit single "Novice's Love."
History
1990s
Yangpa debuted in 1996 with the album ''Novice's Lo ...
, titled "Power & Beauty in San Francisco" with around 8,000 tickets already sold. However, the concert was postponed and later cancelled due to visas not being prepared four days before the event. The event organizer, Namu Entertainment later sued Core Contents Media, blaming the agency for not taking precautions and not preparing visas in time.
In 2013, the Seoul District prosecutor's office charged a 39 year old male for fraudulently taking advantage of T-ara's image on Smart Phone applications and obtain .
In 2014, MBK Entertainment announced that they had cancelled T-ara's third Japan tour after being scammed by the organizer who had embezzled around 200 million KRW (~$174,000 USD). The scammer was caught 2 years later in 2015.
Discography
*'' Absolute First Album'' (2009)
*'' Jewelry Box'' (2012)
*''Treasure Box
''Treasure Box'' (1996) is a horror novel by American writer Orson Scott Card. It takes place in modern-day America.
Plot introduction
The plot details a middle-aged man, Quentin Fears (pronounced "fierce"), who marries a woman who turns out ...
'' (2013)
*'' Gossip Girls'' (2014)
Concerts
Published works
* ''Sparkle'' (2012) Tokyo: Gentosha, 2012. . Shot by Shin Yamagishi.
* ''T-ara Private Book'' (2013) Tokyo: Kodansha, 2013. .
Filmography
Awards and nominations
See also
* T-ara videography
* List of songs recorded by T-ara
* List of best-selling girl groups
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. Girl groups have been popular at least since the heyday of the Boswell Sisters beginning in the 1930s, but the term "girl group" also denote ...
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:T-ara
Articles which contain graphical timelines
Musical groups established in 2009
Musical groups reestablished in 2020
2009 establishments in South Korea
Japanese-language singers of South Korea
K-pop music groups
MBK Entertainment artists
Universal Music Japan artists
Musical groups from Seoul
South Korean dance music groups
South Korean girl groups
South Korean synth-pop groups
Melon Music Award winners