Is Kim Garam really a bully? Le Sserafim member put on indefinite hiatus following row
Trigger Warning: School Bullying
A lot has happened in the life of HYBE’s Kim Garam who recently made her debut as a member of the girl group Le Sserafim. As soon as she was introduced, Garam was surrounded by rumors that alleged she was a school bully. HYBE refuted the claims by counterarguing that Garam was a victim of bullying, but the rumors against her only kept growing so much so that on May 19, a legal firm called Daeryum reported their side of the story on behalf of Garam’s alleged victim, Yoo Eunseo.
The statement caught HYBE off guard at first and eventually led to a lengthy statement from the label where they clarified the entire controversy. Besides, on May 20, ahead of HYBE’s newest statement regarding the scandal, Le Sserafim had to cancel their group appearances on music shows, with fans blaming Garam for bringing the group down.
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HYBE apologizes on behalf of Kim Garam
Aside from HYBE’s detailed statement about Kim Garam being innocent and a victim of bullying rather than the assailant, the label also announced that Garam will be put on an indefinite hiatus until the scandal is resolved. HYBE first apologized to fans for causing a huge controversy around their artists. They also claimed that they are trying to resolve the issue without making its details public since several of the involved are minors who are still in high school.
The label also apologized on behalf of Kim Garam saying, “We would like to apologize for Kim Garam’s wrong words and actions in the past.” HYBE reiterated that the quarrel, which was mutual and non-violent according to the label, took place when Garam was defending a friend and not to protect herself. Apparently, she inserted herself into an issue that did not personally concern her.
Kim Garam put on a hiatus
The label added that Kim Garam has now admitted her mistake and is deeply reflecting on her actions which involve cursing and acting in a way that made others feel threatened. HYBE added that despite being a victim of school violence as well as cyberbullying after her first year of middle school, Kim Garam has worked steadily towards her dream of becoming a singer and is working to have a better future. The label also said that since the scandal broke out ahead of the group’s debut, the rumors have caused a lot of psychological difficulties for Kim Garam.
After a discussion with Garam herself, HYBE has decided to let her take a break from Le Sserafim’s activities and focus on healing after the scandal. The label added that Le Sserafim will work as five members for the time being until Garam recovers and finally returns. HYBE also mentioned that 2018 was a complicated year for Garam, adding that she will deeply reflect on her immature behavior during her hiatus period.