Netizens are now reacting to HYBE's decision not to remove Kim Garam as an official member of the newly-introduced girl group LE SSERAFIM despite her worsening school bullying controversy.
Though the music label already announced Kim Garam's hiatus after her alleged victim's legal representative released an official statement about the matter, fans believe it is not enough.
Kim Garam to Stay as LE SSERAFIM Member
The rookie idol faces more bullying allegations and accusations despite the agency's announcement about her temporary hiatus. In fact, there is an increasing number of her alleged victims coming to light.
For the time being, she will not be part of the group's promotions, so the girls will continue doing their activities as a five-piece.
With that said, many LE SSERAFIM fans are now clamoring for Kim Garam's removal from the group, but an industry official revealed HYBE has no plans to remove her at all, per AllKpop.
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As this claim started to circulate, netizens gathered in the online community The Qoo to share their reaction to the issue.
Some said they had no idea what the company was thinking to come up with that decision.
"To be honest, HYBE keeping silent about the controversy at the beginning and denying the rumors kept growing the issue," another stressed.
One fan claimed she thought the issue surrounding the 16-year-old idol was only to make noise as a form of marketing, but it didn't seem like it.
As another said the group might flop, a different fan believed HYBE was waiting for the controversy to die down.
HYBE Allegedly Talking to Kim Garam's Alleged Victim
Meanwhile, rumors have it that HYBE is privately talking with Kim Garam's alleged victim for a possible settlement.
This stems from the statement of the victim's legal representative, Daeryun, released on May 23.
"We do not have additional statements because we are currently discussing a solution with HYBE," he said.
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So, reading between the lines, fans can't help but think that the company is working on a settlement with the victim to give the accused a major comeback when the issue finally gets resolved.
In addition, netizens learned that Kim Garam started auditioning in the same year the Autonomous Committee for Countermeasures against School Violence was held against her.
In fact, in an interview with WeVerse Magazine, the controversial K-pop star herself revealed she started auditioning to become a singer in 2018.
"I started to actually work toward becoming a singer, beginning with that audition in 2018," she said.
It was the same year when she received "degree 5" punishment for her involvement as an "assailant" in the school bullying controversy after the end of the committee session.
If the victim claims that Kim Garam's Autonomous Committee for Countermeasures against School Violence was held in 2018, she continued her auditions in the same year she was penalized for bullying.
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