Apink is one of the K-pop groups who lost members along the way due to various reasons. And, one of those members is Hong Yookyung, who left just two years after their debut.
Wondering where she is now? Then, keep on reading!
Yookyung's Activities Before Leaving Apink
Hong Yookyung was the fifth trainee to be revealed as a member of Apink. She was given the positions of main rapper and vocalist in the group, which officially debuted on April 19, 2011 with their first EP "Seven Springs of Apink."
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As an Apink member, Yookyung participated in more comebacks, reality shows, and songs/music videos for the uniform brand Skoolooks (alongside BEAST). She also performed with her bandmates in various festivals/concerts, including Canadian Music Fest and AIA K-POP 2013 concert.
Hong's last comeback participation was for Apink's first studio album "Une Année," which was released on May 9, 2012. She unfortunately departed from the team on April 23, 2013.
Why Did Yookyung Leave Apink?
On April 23, A Cube Entertainment (now called IST Entertainment) announced that Hong Yookyung will leave Apink to focus on her studies.
The agency explained that the decision was jointly made by the singer and the label after careful deliberation and thought. They continued that Yookyung was entering college that year and asked fans to send encouragement and support to her as well as the remaining Apink members.
In May 2016, photos of former Apink Yookyung on a subway were posted online. In the pictures, she can be seen wearing casual clothes and appearing as an ordinary person riding the train home.
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During an interview with Allympic in February 2021, Hong was asked if she left the entertainment industry without regrets, to which she answered that she was upset as she was desperate to remain as an idol.
Yookyung also revealed that she was given an offer to debut in another girl group, but although she would like to be an idol, she didn't accept it as it may harm Apink and prevent her from being able to rejoin the group in the future.
Where Is Former Apink Yookyung Now? Know Her Current Whereabouts Here
At present, former Apink member Hong Yookyung is a successful fashion designer. She first revealed her new profession in January 2021 through a post on her personal Instagram account.
In the post, she revealed that she had been attending a fashion school in Seoul, called ESmode, for the past two years (2019-2020), and shared that she won the school's grand award for design with her graduation project. She also said that she was featured in the newspaper Chosun Ilbo after claiming the award.
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Apart from her new career as a fashion designer, former Apink Yookyung runs her own YouTube channel, which currently has more than 10,000 subscribers. While she is not that active in uploading videos to her channel, she regularly updates her Instagram account and Twitter account.
On Instagram, she shares pictures showing her daily activities, such as playing golf and hanging out with friends and family. She also sometimes posts pictures of her with her former Apink members. One time, she uploaded images of her with Apink Eunji, showing their unchanging friendship.
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Written by Maria Scott
