Knetz unhappy with HYBE sexualizing minors in new girl group Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim, HYBE and Source Music’s first girl group in collaboration is almost near its debut date. And with it, we are getting more and more information from the members to concept images. Fans are further excited as the group includes former IZ*ONE members Chaewon and Sakura. However, for the past few days, the new girl group has been turning heads for a couple of wrong reasons. One of the members, Kim Garam is embroiled in a school bullying controversy as alleged victims are coming forward.
With HYBE’s swift action of a lawsuit against the alleged victims for defamation, GFriend fans were angry that the label never did anything when GFriend was being harassed and bullied. And now, with the release of Le Sserafim’s concept photos, fans feel that it is not up to the mark and standard of a huge company that is home to the global sensation BTS and other popular groups like Seventeen, TXT and Enhypen. In fact, many find it creepy as the girls are seemingly sexualized with many of them being minors.
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Le Sserafim’s concept photos
Sakura was the first Le Sserafim member to be introduced as she sported heels, a mini skirt and a tennis racket. Since she is 24-years-old, fans did not say much. However, the next member to wear a similar outfit was none other than Kim Garam, who is only born in 2005. Her photoshoot in a skimpy dress and a tennis racket made fans uncomfortable. While member Hong Eunchae looked more sporty, Kim Chaewon was the next to be introduced in a mini skirt, crop top and heels along with the same tennis racket in a seductive pose. While she is 21-years-old, fans are now starting to speak up about the sexualization of female idols regardless of their age.
The girls are also posing against a plain and simple background with no other decor or props which has had fans calling HYBE and Source Music lazy. With the other big K-pop labels going all out from expensive outfits to lavish CGI for their rookie groups like NMIXX, aespa and Treasure, fans are calling out the cheap concept photos given to Le Sserafim.
'I hate the poses'
Some Knetizens cursed Bang PD, the face of HYBE while another went as far as to say that the concept must have been pitched by a middle-aged male Otaku (obsessed with Japanese pop culture like anime). One user posted, “I hate the poses. Who made them do that? F**k.” Another said, “It looks too much like a MAXIM photoshoot (T/N: adult magazine). They even gave them a tennis racket…” One user commented, “If they were going with a sexy concept, they should've done it trendily... It's just so old-fashionedㅜㅜ What are they doing to these beautiful girls…” Another said, “Hybe is a big company, I really didn't expect them to release something that looks as cheap as this... I feel sad for them.”