Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon Indirectly Mentions Jessica—What Happened? (ft. Ji Ye-eun)

Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation has drawn attention after indirectly referencing former member Jessica, who left the group in 2014.

On April 1, YouTube channel 'M-dromeda Studio' released a new episode of 'The Table Is Yours' (Ep. 7), titled "Tell Me Your Wish — Cooking for Girls’ Generation." In the episode, Hyoyeon appeared as a guest, alongside actress Ji Ye-eun, a well-known fan of the group.

Ji Ye-eun shared her nostalgic memories with Hyoyeon, saying, “I still remember rushing home in middle school to watch 'Girls' Generation Go to School',” referring to the group's pre-debut reality show. She added, “I had Girls’ Generation photos on my pencil case, and during lunch breaks, I’d play your songs and dance in class.”

When Hyoyeon asked, “What choreographies do you know?” Ji Ye-eun surprised her by singing “Beginning,” a track from Girls’ Generation’s first full-length album. She even revealed her old game nickname was “So Nyeo Ye-eun,” a play on the group’s Korean name.

Asked which member’s role she used to take on during dance covers, Ji Ye-eun said, “I rotated every time, but learning the choreography for Into the New World was the hardest.”

She recalled recording the group’s performances on DMB (a mobile TV service popular in Korea at the time) to practice over and over again.

Ji Ye-eun then revealed she had the chance to meet Taeyeon, YoonA, and Hyoyeon after becoming a celebrity herself, saying “That’s when I really felt like I’d made it. All my friends know how much I loved Girls’ Generation—they even said, ‘You really made it now.’”

At one point, the producers jokingly asked Ji Ye-eun, “Didn’t you say you used to dream of joining Girls’ Generation?” Hyoyeon added with a smile saying “Which role do you think Ye-eun could’ve filled?” When Ji Ye-eun replied, “The maknae (youngest),” Hyoyeon quipped in. “There was an open spot... since one member left,” causing laughter as she indirectly referred to Jessica, who exited the group in 2014.

Girls’ Generation debuted in 2007 with Into the New World and went on to release numerous hits, including Gee, Genie, Oh!, I Got a Boy, The Boys, and Party. Jessica left the group in 2014 but remains a key figure in the group's early legacy.