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Was Le Sserfim's debut rushed? Members Kazuha, Sakura and Yunjin almost DIDN'T join HYBE group

The debut single from Le Sserafim, 'Fearless', was a chart-topping success but K-pop fans felt that the song lacked 'build up' and was 'bland'

Over the first half of 2022, one of the most anticipated K-pop girl group debuts was from BTS' label HYBE. After debuting three very successful and very famous boy groups over the last decade in the form of Big Hit Music's BTS and TXT as well as Be Lift Labs' Enhypen, it was time for HYBE to debut their first-ever girl group which was revealed to be Le Sserafim. From having two former IZ*ONE members in its member lineup to having an anagram for a name, there was quite some buzz around Le Sserafim. As soon as HYBE revealed their second member from Le Sserafim, a young girl named Kim Garam, the idol was surrounded by school bullying rumors that have still not died down.

Despite the controversy, HYBE did not delay Le Sserafim's debut nor did they put Garam's debut with the group on hold, and still debuted the girl group as six members. But, as time passed, the allegations against Garam became much more complicated with legal parties involved and it was decided best for Garam to take a hiatus from the group. Le Sserafim has been promoting as five members since then. In their recent interview with Forbes Magazine, the members revealed that their debut indeed was rushed and that some of the members actually did not plan on debuting with the HYBE and Source Music girl group in the first place. 

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Was Le Sserafim's debut rushed?

From the initial conception of the girl group Le Sserafim under HYBE Labels' subsidiary Source Music, fans were sure that the disbanded girl group IZ*ONE's members Chaewon and Sakura were going to be sure entrants. Not only that but even before the official members were revealed, both Chaewon and Sakura posed for pictures with HYBE's founder and Chairman, Bang PD (aka Bang Si-hyuk). In the interview with Forber Magazine, members of Le Sserafim revealed that the six members namely Chaewon, Sakura, Garam, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae all became a part of Le Sserafim in January of 2021.

In the interview, Yunjin said, "The members were scouted quickly as well," while Eunchae revealed that the members were finalized by the beginning of 2021. Not only that but the girl group then soon made their debut as early as May 2022 with only four months of preparation and training. The debut single from Le Sserafim titled, 'Fearless' was a chart-topping success but fans of K-pop that had heard the single stated that the song lacked 'build up' and was 'bland' which was proof that the group's debut was rushed.

Some Le Sserafim members almost did not debut with the girl group

Moreover, the interview also had members Yunjin and Kazuha reveal that the two had different plans for their careers had HYBE and Source Music not selected them to be a part of Le Sserafim. In the interview, Yunjin said, "I was initially planning to study music in the States, and all like fate, I was given an opportunity to join Le Sserafim." Yunjin grew up in the United States and moved to South Korea in her teens to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop idol. Not only Yunjin but ballet dancer turned idol Kazuha also almost did not debut with Le Sserafim.

In the Forbes interview, Kazuha said, "I loved ballet, but I wanted to take chances on different things for the rest of my life. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity and it just felt like fate that I came here to join the team." Other than the two, former IZ*ONE member Sakura also had an inviting career in Japan laid out for her but the singer revealed that she found a bigger potential to grow in South Korea. Sakura said, "When I went back to Japan after IZ*ONE was disbanded, I didn’t feel perfectly satisfied. I still had a desire to grow as an artist and perform on a bigger stage so I made a decision to come back to Korea."

Now with Le Sserafim's popularity being at a fairly good place and the tension around Kim Garam slowly dying down, a lot of attention is being placed on how HYBE handles the controversy and if Garam would ever return. Some fans of Le Sserafim are also getting used to the girl group being five members instead of six but it is up to HYBE and Source Music to handle the controversy and continue the activities of Le Sserafim.