Choa Opens Up About Leaving AOA: 'I Needed the Courage to Be Disliked—Even by My Members'

Former AOA member Choa has candidly revealed the real reasons behind her departure from the group.

On the 20th, the YouTube channel 'Ige Jinjja Choejong' (which translates to 'This Is Really the Final') released a new episode titled 'Is It Because of BLACKPINK and TWICE?' featuring a Pajama Party with special guests Choa, formerly of AOA, and Soyul, formerly of Crayon Pop.



When asked about her idol days, Choa reflected, “My trainee period was short—just a year and a half. I never had time to relax. Even in the waiting room, while others played around, if I wasn't satisfied with the camera rehearsal, I'd be practicing in front of the mirror.”

Choa, who described herself as a perfectionist, confessed, “I played hard for eight years,” hinting at her eventual decision to leave AOA.

Asked directly about why she stepped away from the spotlight, Choa shared honestly, “I debuted because I dreamed of being an idol, but I realized working hard alone wasn’t enough anymore. When BLACKPINK and TWICE debuted during my toughest times, I thought, ‘This is my peak. I’ve reached my limit.’”



She continued, “I felt that no matter how much harder I tried, it wouldn’t work out. I was on the verge of losing myself, so I decided to leave.” Soyul commented, “You’re the type to think things through and make decisions on your own.”

Choa agreed, adding, “That’s right. That’s probably why the other members might not like me.” She went on to drop a heartfelt revelation: “I realized things would only get harder for me mentally, so I thought I should at least try to find my own happiness. At the time, the best-selling book was ‘The Courage to Be Disliked.’ I really had to muster up that courage to leave, even if it meant being disliked.”

Reflecting on her decision, Choa stated, “Even if I could go back, I think I’d still choose to leave,” showing her unwavering conviction and drawing attention from fans.

Photo Credit: Xportsnews, Ige Jinjja Choejong

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