AOA member Choa has denied that she left the girl group because of pregnancy or marriage. Choa announced on June 22 that she has decided to leave AOA because of insomnia and depression. But after her announcement, rumors swirled that this was not the reason. Choa made another Instagram post to refute them.
"I know that the more you all show interest in me, the more rumors there will be. I am not pregnant, I did not get an abortion, nor am I leaving the group because of a marriage," she wrote, according to AllKPop.
She said there are celebrities who publicly date and she could do it if she wanted to. "I'm the type to not have very many friends, so it's true that he has been a big strength to me recently. If we continue to build our relationship, there is nothing wrong with dating, so I will be as honest as necessary and will continue to have a budding relationship with him. I decided my departure after a lengthy amount of thought, so please do not associate it with other issues," she pleaded.
The rumor of her departure from AOA started last March when she failed to attend the group's activities and appearances.
News reports stated that she's dating businessman Lee Seok-jin of Najin Corporation. A news site published photos of her and Lee as they came back from their trip in Japan.
"Up until now, they have been pressuring me by saying that they will make the photos go public, but now [that the photos are out], I feel rather relieved. I will add another photo to accompany the photos and articles from today, and would like to explain myself," Choa stated.
She denied that she went to Japan with the businessman only, saying she took a vacation with her two sisters.
"It looks like I went on a couple vacation with just the two of us, but it was my first overseas trip with my older and younger sister. My younger sister, who is in her first year of middle school, likes to draw and likes animation, so I chose Japan in the hopes that the trip might help her future just a little bit," she added.
She said that she "asked an acquaintance whom I've known for the past 3 years," referring to Lee. "He led us as a guide on days when my family's trip overlapped with his, and because on our way back, it was late and we had a lot of luggage, he helped us and bid us off, and that was when we were photographed, just the two of us," Choa explained.
She reiterated that her reason for leaving AOA was because of her health. "My stance on my departure is the same as my SNS post from yesterday, and I hope that the controversies that have come up after my departing SNS post will not affect the [AOA] members negatively. I apologize once again for delivering bad news to you all and worrying you this morning," she ended.
