Cho Min Ah, a former member of the girl group Jewelry, has claimed that she was bullied by her fellow members during her time in the group.

In an Instagram post on July 17, Cho Min Ah wrote, "I posted a message to give strength to those who are struggling with panic disorder, but many of you have cheered me on and encouraged me, which has been really supportive."

She continued, "In my early 20s, there was a false report that I had panic disorder frequently. But at the time, it wasn't panic disorder, it was bullying from my fellow members. They smoked in the van all the time, which was very painful, and I was treated like an ashtray. Even at those moments, I held on to my mental strength and persevered."

Cho Min Ah explained that she did not reveal the bullying at the time because she was afraid of being judged by the public. She said, "If I admitted that I was being bullied, I was afraid that everyone in the world would think I was weird and treat me like that. So I pretended that we were all good friends, but later I couldn't even ride in the van with them, so I rode in the dancers' car. I barely finished my contract with the group and I couldn't even imagine renewing it."

Cho Min Ah also said that she wanted to share her story with those who are struggling with bullying. She said, "People who hurt others don't care about the pain they cause others. They just pretend they don't remember or that it never happened."

She added, "Those who are bullied are left with the feeling of being suffocated, humiliated, and miserable. Don't wait for a sincere apology, and don't be cut down by the thought that it will happen again."

Cho Min Ah also said that she ignored her own pain and pretended to be okay because she was afraid of being judged by others. She said, "If you are isolated by the past, your present life will be impoverished and you will not be able to look forward to the future. You need the courage to heal yourself and return to a life without prejudice. It is never your fault."

She concluded her post by saying, "Don't hide and don't be afraid to say that you are in pain. Get out of the situation that is hurting you. There is no difficulty that you cannot overcome. I will always support you."

Cho Min Ah was a member of Jewelry from 2002 to 2006. She participated in the group's second, third, and fourth albums, and she performed with members Park Jung-ah, Lee Ji-hyun, and Seo In-young. Cho Min Ah also claimed in March that she was bullied by her Jewelry members.

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