A former K-pop idol, whose career once soared with the popular girl group T-ara, is now facing a stint behind bars, embroiled in a scandal involving child abuse and defamation charges. Lee Areum, now 31, captured the spotlight in 2012 as part of T-ara, but her time with the group was short-lived, as she departed after a year due to mental health struggles.

In 2019, Areum’s personal life took a different turn when she wed businessman Kim Young-gul. The couple welcomed two children into the world before their relationship deteriorated, culminating in a divorce in 2023.

Amidst the turmoil, Areum made headlines last year when she turned to social media with serious allegations against her estranged husband. She accused Kim Young-gul of child and domestic abuse, a sensational claim that prompted a police investigation, as reported by Koreaboo.

However, the investigation concluded without substantiating Areum’s allegations. Authorities found no evidence to support the claims of abuse, ultimately exonerating Young-gul from any wrongdoing.

However, following a police investigation, no evidence of any abuse was found and Young-gul was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Shortly after making the accusations, Areum attempted suicide and was taken to hospital. 

After being cleared, Young-gul then filed criminal complaints against both Areum and her mother for child abuse, stemming from an incident in which Areum ‘verbally abused’ him in front of their children.  

Additionally, he filed a defamation lawsuit against Areum for exposing court documents during a live internet stream.

Former K-pop star Lee Areum is headed to prison on charges of child abuse and defamation

She shot to fame as a member of the chart-topping girl group T-ara in 2012, but she left the group after just one year following a series of mental health issues.

According to Star News Korea , Areum was found guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, for child abuse and defamation. She was also ordered to undergo 40 hours of child abuse prevention education.

‘The defendant has admitted to all charges. Her actions caused significant psychological harm to the children’s lawful guardian, which deserves strong condemnation,’ the court said.

Her mother was sentenced to four months in prison ‘after she was accused of neglecting her grandchildren by allowing them to live in the same space where Areum verbally abused her ex-husband from 2021 to 2022,’ according to the Hindustan Times.  

Areum appealed the sentencing last month, but her appeal was denied by the Suwon District Court.

This isn’t the only legal trouble that Areum is in.

Last year, the Sexy Love hitmaker was convicted of fraud for borrowing money from both friends and fans and failing to repay it, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

She was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for one year, on a reduced sentence after she admitted guilt and made partial repayments to the victims. 

Her boyfriend Seo Dong Hoon, who she left her ex-husband for, was also convicted in the case and sentenced to 14 months in prison.

She publicly accused her ex-husband of child abuse and domestic abuse, but was police later determined that there was no evidence and she was sued for defamation 

The mother-of-three attempted suicide last year in the midst of a fraud scheme with her boyfriend, who is a convicted criminal

Dong Hoon previously served more than two years in prison for fraud and sexual violence, according to Korean news outlet Dispatch. 

According to AllKpop, the couple would target friends and fans by falsely claiming that they needed money to pay for emergency room fees for Areum and her children.

All up, they were able to obtain around US$27,000 from more than ten victims. 

Areum first shot to fame in 2012 at age 17 when she joined the South Korean girl group T-ara, which was one of Asia’s most popular K-pop acts at the time. 

She left the group abruptly just one year later, but remained in the spotlight by sporadically popping up on various Korean TV shows.

In 2022, she appeared alongside her now ex-husband on the reality series Caught Between Marriage & Divorce, where the former couple were often shown arguing.

Areum filed for divorce the following year and then immediately announced that she was dating convicted criminal Dong Hoon and that they were expecting a child together. 

She welcomed her third child in October of 2024, shortly after she and Dong Hoon were charged with fraud. 

Just one month later, Areum announced that she was pregnant again, but there have been no updates since. 

Meanwhile, T-ara went on an official hiatus in 2017, but the group has reunited several times since then without Areum.

Over the past year, the group has performed as a quartet all over China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam.