Choa Opens Up About Leaving AOA: "I Felt Burned Out—Members Might Not Like Me"

Choa has candidly revealed the ture reason behind her departure from AOA.

On the 20th, the YouTube channel 'Ige Jinjja Choejong' (This is Really the Final) uploaded a new episode of its 'Pajama Sisters Party' series, titled "Is It Because of BLACKPINK and TWICE?". The episode featured Choa, formerly of AOA, and Soyul, formerly of Crayon Pop, as special guests.

During the show, Choa shared, "I left AOA because I was experiencing burnout. Around that time, Soyul got married and had two children, but I felt like I hadn't done anything. I was at a point in my life where I was wondering how to start my second chapter."

She went on to say, "I debuted because I dreamed of becoming an idol, but I realized that working hard alone wasn't enough anymore. Just as BLACKPINK and TWICE were debuting as rookies, I felt like I had reached my peak. I thought, 'If I keep pushing myself, nothing will change, so maybe I should leave while people still applaud.' That's why I decided to withdraw from the group."



When Soyul remarked, "You seem like someone who makes decisions on your own," Choa admitted, "That's right. That's probably why the other members might not like me," making a surprising confession.

She continued, "Mentally, I knew I couldn't keep going. It was a decision for my own happiness. At the time, the bestselling book was 'The Courage to Be Disliked.' I really took that message to heart when I left. Even now, if I could go back, I think I'd make the same choice."

Choa also revealed that after leaving AOA, she still wanted to pursue music, but rumors of her retirement spread. "I thought maybe I really should retire. For three years, I did nothing, but then I started YouTube again. Thanks to the support and interest of so many people, I was able to make a comeback.

Photo Credit: Enjoy Couple’s YouTube Channel

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Yoon Hyeonji. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.