Netizens Demand BBC Exclude NewJeans and Garam in LE SSERAFIM Article

On October 19, 2024, the BBC published an article entitled “Le Sserafim: The K-pop group aiming to transform the industry,”focusing on HYBE’s girl group, LE SSERAFIM. The piece explored various facets of the band’s evolution, highlighting their ambitions to redefine an industry often criticized for its unrealistic beauty ideals.

Nevertheless, specific portions of the article triggered backlash from both LE SSERAFIM’s fans and supporters of another HYBE group, NewJeans. A significant point of controversy arose from the reference to Kim Garam, a former member of LE SSERAFIM, who departed the group amidst allegations of school bullying.

The initial article claimed that Garam faced accusations of bullying, which ultimately resulted in her contract’s termination. Supporters of Garam swiftly criticized this depiction as misleading, pointing out that she had denied the allegations and had released documents from a school violence investigation that supposedly exonerated her.

An X user, @RubyValentine__, expressed:

“Why is Garam and NewJeans included in this article? You can take HYBE’s paycheck and create articles inflating the worth of this second-tier K-pop group, but keep NewJeans and Garam out of your narrative. Especially if you won’t give them the respect they deserve.”

Many other fans resonated with these views on social media.

“For a major news organization, you couldn’t even verify the facts first?? How can Garam still be labeled a bully when she was actually the one bullied?”wrote another X user.

“It’s unnecessary to keep referencing Garam in news pieces about LE SSERAFIM, especially if you’re not prepared to conduct proper research and reduce her to just a ‘bump in the road,’”commented another fan.

“Please change the section about Garam. It’s 2024; she is innocent and did not bully anyone, and she was removed from the group,”a user pleaded.

“Garam is innocent. The accusations stemmed from middle school, when she was just 12 or 13, NOT high school. She did NOT resign; HYBE dismissed her despite being aware of her innocence. PLEASE FACT CHECK, BBC,”an X user urged.

The article was later amended to read:

“Initially, there was a sixth member. Kim Garam featured on the band’s debut EP, Fearless, but her contract was subsequently terminated following accusations (which she refuted) of bullying fellow students.”

In addition to concerns regarding Garam, NewJeans fans were displeased with the manner in which their group was mentioned, which seemed to serve to elevate LE SSERAFIM. The article also highlighted NewJeans member Hanni’s recent testimony at South Korea’s National Assembly, addressing the alleged workplace bullying she faced.

NewJeans’ fans, known as Ttokkis, felt their group’s challenges were being exploited to enhance LE SSERAFIM’s image. They expressed their discontent on social platforms, arguing that the issues faced by NewJeans should not be leveraged to favor another group.

“Lies. Involving individuals who are no longer associated with that group. Hanni too had nothing to do with being mentioned in this article,”a fan stated.

“What relevance does this have to NewJeans?? What nonsense is this? How low can HYBE stoop? This is shameful. Publishing articles like this while pretending they (HYBE) aren’t the root cause of the bullying, which forced Hanni to address the National Assembly,”

Recent BBC article ignites backlash from fans of LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans

The uproar regarding NewJeans’ mention in the article comes in the wake of Hanni’s testimony on October 15, 2024, where she attended the National Assembly alongside ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo-young, to discuss workplace harassment. This event, rooted in bullying allegations within the group, sparked a broader societal dialogue.

While many lauded Hanni’s bravery in addressing these issues, fans were frustrated that such a significant topic was included in an article primarily about LE SSERAFIM. Supporters from both groups voiced their displeasure, calling for more respectful and accurate journalism.

They urged media outlets to exclude NewJeans and Garam from discussions surrounding LE SSERAFIM, stressing the importance of acknowledging their separate experiences.

In the meantime, in the BBC article, LE SSERAFIM members highlighted that their message wasn’t centered around the struggles of their profession, but rather about sharing relatable experiences with the broader workforce. The report also discussed the group’s apology for perceived shortcomings in their vocal performance during their time at Coachella.

As fans speculate about the arrival of a new EP, the band members remain elusive, teasing that any forthcoming release will be significant.

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