On June 16, Management Koo officially announced that it had signed an exclusive contract with Kim Garam.
Regarding the context of the contract, the agency said that it observed Kim Garam’s activities on YouTube and saw both her potential for growth as an actress and her sincere attitude. The agency explained “He has consistently continued training and research to improve his acting skills and has shown remarkable growth in a short period of time.” They also praised his dedication to personal development, highlighting his efforts in studying acting, English, Japanese and guitar.
However, public sentiment regarding Kim Garam’s return remains particularly cold. The biggest obstacle continues to be his past school bullying controversy, which led to his departure from LE SSERAFIM just two months after debuting as an idol. Even before introducing herself to the public as a member of LE SSERAFIM in May 2022, Kim Garam had already been embroiled in controversy over allegations related to her past behavior.
His entertainment career, which had been going on before the allegations were clearly resolved, eventually came to an abrupt end after it was revealed that Kim Garam had received a Level 5 disciplinary action in a school violence case. While some argued that both aspects of the incident should be considered, news of a Level 5 measure being deemed a serious disciplinary action by the School Violence Countermeasures Committee left the public shocked and deeply disappointed.
As the controversy intensified, Kim Garam terminated his exclusive contract with Source Music and officially left the group in July of that year.
After stepping away from the music industry, Kim Garam launched her personal YouTube channel in March and began reconnecting with fans. His first video surpassed one million views, while his channel gained around 270,000 subscribers, successfully attracting public attention.
However, YouTube businesses and traditional entertainment promotions follow very different paths. The label of “school bullying” there still remains a heavy burden hanging over his career. As Kim Garam embarks on a new beginning, it appears that a difficult road lies ahead, filled with significant obstacles.
Sources: Daum
