Ex-LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Garam in Discussions for New Agency Deal Following 3-Year Hiatus
On June 11, reports emerged that Kim Garam, a former member of the girl group LE SSERAFIM, is in discussions for an exclusive contract with the newly established entertainment agency Moden Berry Korea.
In response, a representative from Moden Berry Korea stated, “Nothing has been decided yet.”
On May 18, Kim Ga-ram launched a new personal Instagram account, @garamonly, and posted several photos, including mirror selfies and casual snapshots from her daily life. Accompanying the images was a simple smiling emoji, marking her quiet return to the public eye.
Despite the long hiatus, her reappearance quickly gained traction. Within just eight hours, her first post surpassed 300,000 likes, and her follower count is also nearing 300,000. Many comments from international fans poured in, expressing support in various languages. In addition, an article on Korean forum “theqoo” about Garam’s SNS return has become a hot topic, attracting over 93,000 views and 300 comments.
However, public opinion in South Korea remains divided. In 2022, Kim Garam debuted with LE SSERAFIM but was soon engulfed in a school bullying controversy. At the time, her agency Source Music defended her, claiming she was a victim of malicious slander and misrepresentation of events from her early middle school years.
But the controversy didn’t subside. Additional allegations and a disciplinary document related to school violence were revealed, leading to her suspension from activities, eventual departure from the group, and termination of her contract with Source Music.
Following her departure, Kim Garam publicly denied all serious accusations, stating, “I have never hit anyone, committed any violence, smoked or drank, or bullied someone. I was never forcibly transferred to another school.”
Since then, sightings of her have been rare. Last year, it was reported that she enrolled in Konkuk University’s College of Art and Design, majoring in media acting.
Although Kim Garam has not announced any plans to return to the entertainment industry, her online comeback has reignited debate. Some netizens argue that public support feels premature given the unresolved nature of the original controversy.
Comments on Pann:
- But seriously, it’s surprising she still wants to show her face around when the whole world knows she was officially penalized for school bullying. What level of bullying was she again?
- She really has no conscience, lol.
- After all that in the past, she still thinks about becoming a celebrity? That’s honestly impressive, lol.
- If she had stayed, LE SSERAFIM would’ve had a visual member… too bad the prettiest one left.
- Without Queen Garam, LE SSERAFIM feels like a group that’s missing something.
Whether Kim Garam will use her renewed platform to share more or remain quietly active remains to be seen—but her return, even through a single post, has once again placed her at the center of public discussion.