Kim Garam plays the guitar in a video on her YouTube channel. Kim Garam YouTube capture

Having debuted as a member of Le Sserafim but leaving the team due to a school bullying controversy, Kim Garam is set to begin full-fledged acting activities about four years later.

Management Gu said on the 16th, “We have steadily followed the YouTube activities of Kim Garam and were deeply impressed by her potential for growth as an actor and her diligent attitude,” and added, “Her daily efforts and progress to achieve her dream were key factors in our decision to sign an exclusive contract.”

They continued, “Steady training and study to improve acting skills have been ongoing, and she has shown noticeable growth in a short period,” and explained, “She also continues to invest time in learning English and Japanese, and is teaching herself guitar performance, showing that she does not stop challenging herself and learning in new fields.”

However, the agency statement did not include any mention of the school bullying controversy surrounding Kim Garam or of the disposition by the School Violence Countermeasures Autonomous Committee.

In April 2022, immediately after the debut teaser for Le Sserafim was released, Kim Garam became embroiled in allegations of having perpetrated school violence in the past. Kim Garam was recognized by the School Violence Countermeasures Autonomous Committee as a perpetrator in a violent incident, and it became known that a Level 5 disposition had been imposed. A Level 5 disposition is the fifth among measures numbered 1~9 and corresponds to ‘completion of special education or psychological therapy by in- and out-of-school experts’.

At the time, the side of Kim Garam stated, “There has never been any instance of hitting someone or committing violence,” denying the allegation, and the agency also rebutted with the argument that she was “rather a victim.” However, criticism continued that the fact of having received a Level 5 disposition itself had not changed.

In the end, Kim Garam halted activities 19 days after debut, and in July of the same year, Hybe and Source Music announced termination of the exclusive contract. Since then, Le Sserafim has continued activities as a five-member act.

In June last year, a report arose that Kim Garam had signed an exclusive contract with an entertainment agency, but the agency at the time said, “A meeting did take place, but we decided not to sign a contract,” calling the report groundless. Kim Garam opened a personal YouTube channel in March, and subscribers surged immediately after launch, surpassing 160,000.