FALLING IN APRIL

Yunyoung, a former A-JAX member and DSP Media labelmate, wrote a long post on his Instagram story. The story reads:

I'm so upset that I will just tell you the straight facs. When something happens, how much do you objectify your friends? They can’t be objectified but it is up to people to listen to both sides, and they can only pour up their sadness. Hyunjoo must have been upset. Because it is hard, and it is not going your way... but their hearts (April) have been torn apart. Hyunjoo, I’m sorry, but let’s be real. I feel sorry for them because of you.

While I was in DSP Media, I watched the entired process of how April was made. Suddenly, you couldn’t go to practice because you went diving and there were lots of situations in the schedule where you couldn’t participate due to emergencies. It's true that you can be in pain, but it is inevitable. You should've quit immediately. You still wanted to do it, but you also wanted to stay comfortable, how could that work? You weren’t a soloist - you were in a team. You’re a kid who would always crouch in the practice room with your eyes swelling because of how much you cried. When they (April) tried to communicate with you, you didn’t talk or listen but, in a way, the members are attached to each other like family.

Anyone can see that Hyunjoo is a visual. That is obvious. But if you couldn’t keep up with them, then you should've worked harder than anyone else, but you found it too hard to do such thing. I think you should know the facts because the contents uploaded are too one-sided. "Who is the mastermind, the perpetrator, without a bystander"... stop it... Hyunjoo, the members really wanted to protect the group... you only wanted to shine by yourself, but the members put the team and the fans first... You were all young at the time, so I didn’t make a big deal out of it and I just pretended not to know anything, but calling her an outcast... bullying?? Let’s stop trying to distract people's attention from a serious issue.

And Somin, who's a KARD member right now... She's a dongsaeng who’s been trying her hardest since she was young. She was the leader of April and practiced with the younger members while biting her lips and holding back her tears.

They worked so hard to get where they are right now, do you really hate to see them succeed? You know that I’ll always root for you with all of my heart, Hyunjoo. I just hope no one gets hurt.

Hello, this is DSP Media.

We are issuing our official stance on the situation between Hyunjoo and the April members. We will be talking in detail about how Hyunjoo was chosen to be in April and how she left.

Hyunjoo became our label artist as an actress trainee. When April was made, Hyunjoo wanted to be an actress, we convinced her and she and her family agreed to be a part of April.

After she debuted, because of her physical and mental state, she had difficulties participating in April's activities. Because of this, there was a lot of conflict and the other members also experienced damage. Everyone had a hard time and suffered, and we decided that no one could be considered a victim or the perpetrator.

Hyunjoo ultimately expressed that she wanted to leave the group during "Tinkerbell" promotions. We tried to stop her, but she was adamant. It is our responsibility that Hyunjoo and the April members had a hard time. After that, we supported her so she could be an actress. We also supported her because she wanted to be an idol after that. It's true that we supported her as much as possible after she left the team.

Unconfirmed guesswork can hurt both Hyunjoo and April. We ask that you do not spread false rumors. We apologize that our statement was late. Thank you.

This was next followed by a second statement addressing all the accusations point by point. The statement reads:

- On Jeon Somin

Jeon Somin became a trainee at our label when she was 16 and has been working hard for a long time. She worked hard as the leader of April after she debuted. It is false that she hated or bullied any member. Somin and Chaewon were trainees together for 3 years and were close already, so there was no reason for Chaewon to bully someone else to get close to Somin.

- On the tumbler

There are 40-50 tumblers in the dorm, and the members had put dwenjang stew in one of the tumblers for the members to eat at the label. Hyunjoo said it was hers, and Naeun apologized right away. Hyunjoo also ate together with the members.

- On the shoes

The label bought 2 pairs of identical shoes per member for a total of 12 pairs. Four of the members had the same size, and this is just what happened because of that.

- On cursing at a member before broadcast

It is false that a certain member was cursed out before broadcast.

- On their livelihood

The label checked the CCTV of the training room where Hyunjoo claimed she was bullied, but we found nothing. We are letting you know that we shared this with Hyunjoo and her mother as well.

- On the manager

It's true that April members were close to their female manager, who was with them 24/7. Dating the manager is a complete rumor and there is nothing she stayed silent on because she liked a certain member.

- On greeting Hyunjoo's mother

The April members realized it was a serious situation and greeted her silently because they didn't know what to say. This was a misunderstanding caused by that.