South China Morning Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
K-pop scandals
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Kim Ga-ram, 16, has been kicked out of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim following allegations she bullied other students while in middle school. Photo: @le_sserafim/Instagram
K-PopNews

Kim Ga-ram sacked from K-pop’s Le Sserafim over bullying claims – girl group will continue on with five members

  • Just before Le Sserafim’s debut in May, Kim Ga-ram, one of the K-pop girl group’s six members, was accused of bullying other students while in middle school
  • Now their music label, part of the Hybe group, has terminated Kim’s contract because of the allegations, leaving Le Sserafim to carry on with five members
K-pop scandals
The Korea Times
The Korea Times
Why you can trust SCMP

By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop singer Kim Ga-ram has been removed from girl group Le Sserafim. This comes after the 16-year-old was accused of bullying other students while in middle school.
Le Sserafim’s management company, Source Music – a label under Hybe, which represents K-pop megastars BTS – announced on July 20 that it had terminated its contract with Kim.

“We offer our sincere apology for causing inconvenience to the group’s fans and many other people due to the controversy surrounding Kim,” the company said in a statement.

K-pop group Le Sserafim debuted in May with the album Fearless. Photo: Hybe

“From now on, Le Sserafim will continue its musical activity as a five-member group (comprising Kim Chae-won, Sakura, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha and Hong Eun-chae). We will give our utmost support to the quintet so that it can take a leap forward in its career.”

Not long before Le Sserafim’s debut in May, some internet users raised the allegations against Kim, but Source Music denied the accusations, insisting she was actually a victim of bullying.
Fans bought more than 300,000 copies of the group’s debut album during the first week of its release. Photo: @le_sserafim/Instagram

The allegations resurfaced after a photo – which was believed to be of a school document – labelling her as the perpetrator of violence was revealed online. Source Music said at the time that it would initiate legal action in response to the rumours.

Le Sserafim is the first girl group formed by Hybe, and debuted in May with the album Fearless. According to album tracker Hanteo Chart, fans bought more than 300,000 copies of the debut album during the first week of its release – the highest recorded sales for any K-pop girl group.

Read the full story at The Korea Times
Post