Former T-ARA member Areum is under police investigation for alleged child abuse, exploitation, and neglect, according to South Korean media. The Gwangmyeong Police Station in Gyeonggi has referred the case to the Ansan branch of the Suwon Prosecutors' Office, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily on June 4.
Areum and her mother are both under investigation, with the mother facing exploitation charges. Both women have been barred from contacting Areum's two sons. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office had initially dismissed the case in early May due to lack of evidence, but further analysis of the children's testimonies reportedly led experts to deem Areum's claims against her ex-husband as unreliable.
The investigation began after Areum's ex-husband, businessman Kim Young-gul, filed a complaint in February. Areum has filed counter-complaints, accusing him of throwing their infant son out of bed and physically abusing his five-year-old stepson. She also made allegations of gambling and prostitution on social media.
In late March, Areum was hospitalised after a suicide attempt, following her public accusations. She later addressed the incident on Instagram, stating, 'I remembered my loved ones, children, family and friends at the brink of death... I desperately wanted to live.' Areum debuted as a K-pop idol in 2012 with T-ARA and left the group in July 2013.
