The storm surrounding former T-ara member Hwa Young and stylist-turned-TV personality Kim Woo Ri has reignited, with Hwa Young accusing Kim of spreading false claims that have haunted her for years.

Hwa Young took to Instagram on November 18 to express frustration, saying, “After releasing my statement last week confirming the bullying I endured during my T-ara days, I hoped for a sincere apology from CEO Kim Kwang Soo and the T-ara members, but none came.” She also revealed, “For 12 years, I’ve endured false accusations, baseless rumors, and relentless harassment. It’s time to set the record straight.”

At the heart of her anger is Kim Woo Ri’s infamous ‘shampoo’ remark from 2017, where he claimed on the talk show Heard It Through the Grapevine that Hwa Young referred to hairstylists as ’shampoo.’ He alleged that Hwa Young’s attitude was ‘rude’ and defended T-ara in the bullying scandal, stating, “There was no fault on T-ara’s part.”

Hwa Young dismissed Kim Woo Ri’s statements as entirely fabricated, adding, “Kim Woo Ri wasn’t even T-ara’s stylist when I joined the group. We’ve never met or spoken. His words are nothing but defamation.” She criticized his actions as reckless and damaging, saying, “The ‘shampoo’ story caused a wave of hate that I’m still enduring today.”

When contacted by YTN Star for comment, Kim Woo Ri declined, claiming he was abroad and unavailable. Even when asked via text message about Hwa Young’s accusations of lying, he did not respond.

Back in 2017, Kim Woo Ri stirred public outrage with his comments on Hwa Young, calling her ‘ill-mannered’ and spreading rumors about her behavior. Hwa Young hit back at the time, urging him to “stop making things up.” Kim later softened his stance, blaming the controversy on selective editing by the broadcaster, though Channel A denied any manipulation.

Hwa Young revisited this in her recent post, accusing Kim Woo Ri of deflecting responsibility. “Instead of taking accountability for his lies, he conveniently blamed the network. While it might have been an ‘oops’ moment for him, I’m still living with the fallout of his falsehoods,” she wrote.

The resurfacing controversy has sparked heated debate online, with fans divided over who is in the right. For Hwa Young, this is more than just a feud—it’s a fight to reclaim her name and push back against years of judgment.

As the tension between the two deepens, one thing is clear: the ‘shampoo’ remark, once dismissed as a passing comment, continues to fuel a bitter and unresolved chapter in K-pop’s history.