"Leave NewJeans and Garam out of your articles"— Netizens criticize BBC's latest article on LE SSERAFIM mentioning other artists

On October 19, 2024, the BBC released an article titled "Le Sserafim: The K-pop band who want to change the industry," featuring HYBE's girl group, LE SSERAFIM. The article discussed various aspects of the group's journey, including their views on reshaping the industry, which is often criticized for maintaining unrealistic beauty standards.

However, certain sections of the article sparked outrage among fans of LE SSERAFIM and another HYBE girl group, NewJeans. A major point of contention was the mention of Kim Garam, a former member of LE SSERAFIM who left the group following accusations of school bullying.

The original version of the article stated that Garam had been accused of bullying students, which led to her contract being terminated. Fans of the former member were quick to criticize this portrayal, arguing that it was misleading. Garam had previously denied the allegations and had shared documents from a school violence investigation, which she claimed cleared her name.

Following complaints from fans, the BBC revised the article, clarifying that Garam had denied the accusations. A user on X, @RubyValentine__ wrote:

"Why is Garam & NewJeans is this article? You can collect Hybe’s check and write articles inflating the value of this second tier K-pop group, but leave NewJeans and Garam out of your articles. Especially if you aren’t willing to put respect on their names."

Several other fans echoed similar sentiments on the social media platform.

"For a big news outlet you couldn't even fact check first??why is garam still being accused of being a bully when she was the one bullied?" an X user wrote.

"It’s so unnecessary to keep bringing Garam up in news articles about LE SSERAFIM especially if you don’t even bother to do your research right and reduce her to a “bump in the road”," another fan commented.

"Change Garam part plz it’s 2024 she is innocent and didn’t bully any one and she was removed from the group," a person remarked.

"garam was innocent, the accusation took place in middle school aka when she was 12/13 NOT highschool. she did NOT resign, Hybe kicked her out even when they knew she was innocent. PLEASE DO YOUR FACT CHECK BBC," an X user mentioned.

The revised article later read:

"There was originally a sixth member. Kim Garam appeared on the band's debut EP, Fearless, but her contract was terminated shortly afterwards following accusations (which she denied) that she'd bullied students in school."

In addition to Garam's mention, NewJeans fans were upset by the way their group was brought up, which seemed to elevate LE SSERAFIM. The article also highlighted NewJeans member Hanni's recent testimony at South Korea's National Assembly regarding the alleged bullying she experienced in the workplace.

Fans of NewJeans, known as Ttokkis, felt that their group's struggles were being used to praise LE SSERAFIM. They criticized the article for seemingly comparing the two groups. Many voiced their frustration on social media, saying that NewJeans' issues should not be used to make another group look better.

"Liars. Mentioning people who have nothing to do with that group anymore. Hanni too had nothing to do for being mentioned in this group’s article," a fan wrote.

"What does this have to do with newjeans?? What is this nonsense? How low is hybe gonna go? This is beyond shameless. Putting out articles like this as if they(hybe) are not the perpetrator of the bullying and the reason to why hanni even had to attend the sk national assembly,"

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Recent BBC article sparks backlash from LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans fans

The controversy surrounding NewJeans’ mention in the article follows Hanni's recent testimony on October 15, 2024, when she appeared at the National Assembly with ADOR's CEO, Kim Joo-young, to address workplace harassment. This event, which stemmed from allegations of bullying within the group, turned into a broader social discussion.

While many praised Hanni for her courage in speaking out, fans were upset that this serious issue was mentioned in an article meant to focus on LE SSERAFIM. Fans of both groups expressed their frustration, calling for more respectful and accurate reporting.

They urged media outlets to keep NewJeans and Garam out of discussions regarding LE SSERAFIM, emphasizing the importance of separating the groups' distinct experiences.

Meanwhile, in the BBC article, LE SSERAFIM members emphasized that their message wasn't about the hardships of their job but about sharing common experiences with anyone in the workforce. The piece also addressed the group's apology for what was perceived as a weak vocal performance during their Coachella appearance.

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Meanwhile, as fans speculate about a new EP, the band members remain tight-lipped, hinting that whatever they release will be impactful.