Kim Garam has been expelled from LE SSERAFIM (Image via HYBE and Source Music)LE SSERAFIM fans, we have some heartbreaking news: Kim Garam has been expelled from the group and agency.On July 20, HYBE and Source Music released an official statement stating that the company has decided to terminate its exclusive contract with member Kim Garam, who was embroiled in school bullying rumors. The agency stated:"Our company has decided to terminate the exclusive contract with Kim Garam. We extend our sincerest apologies to our fans and to those who have shown love and support to the group for causing concern over the controversy involving the member.”From now on, LE SSERAFIM will continue its activities as a five-member group, and the agency will fully support the group to go further as artists.Kim Garam departs: LE SSERAFIM fans react to the idol's exit from the group and agency픽스일주일 ♧@sohnpicsyou should get away KIM GARAM84451179you should get away KIM GARAM https://t.co/QsgJ8hTd57Shortly after the agency's official announcement, they released another brief statement acknowledging their poor handling of her bullying case.The representative stated:"Although the agency approached this issue and attempted to take action with utmost care and caution, we admit that there were some aspects to the agency's approach which were inadequate, and so we would like to apologize."Fans of LE SSERAFIM took to social media to react to the news of the idol's departure from the group and agency. While some expressed their disappointment, others thought it was in the group's best interests.✨yenna✨@yenna_aaakim garam hahakim garam haha먹구름 wortmagie✨@wordmagieWill this be worthy in the future 🤔 #KIMGARAM1Will this be worthy in the future 🤔 #KIMGARAM https://t.co/v9Nqnl3PRujustiça por kim garam !@dumbmooni@ajaxfoda eh ironiar criticar social veyr vcs n tao me entendendor @ajaxfoda eh ironiar criticar social veyr vcs n tao me entendendor 💔sunghoon@p_sunghoonedInstead of releasing a satisfying result they just give us the thing where "We decided to terminate the exclusive contract with Kim Garam" without saying if shes innocent or guiltily!Please Save Garam.5Instead of releasing a satisfying result they just give us the thing where "We decided to terminate the exclusive contract with Kim Garam" without saying if shes innocent or guiltily!Please Save Garam.Some took a more empathetic stance stating that they hope the ex-idol learns her lesson from this controversy and hopes that the victim finds the strength in them to move on from this trauma.zein@user5193618her training years are now wasted bcs of what she did. i hope this will be a lesson to garam, she's still young and she will probably change. hoping for her better future. i also hope the victim's okay now too. #KIMGARAM #garam #lesserafim2her training years are now wasted bcs of what she did. i hope this will be a lesson to garam, she's still young and she will probably change. hoping for her better future. i also hope the victim's okay now too. #KIMGARAM #garam #lesserafimvy@d_____vybye kim garam☹️bye kim garam☹️Wony 💙🤍@baeksethkim garam such a heartbreaker maan know that i did some research about itkim garam such a heartbreaker maan know that i did some research about itCertain fans made jokes on the news stating that now other HYBE artists, particularly TOMORROW X TOGETHER's Yeojun, can fill the spot in LE SSERAFIM and replace her as the sixth member of the group.eule | meo@eulefrancisouch. Kim Garam out, Choi Yeonjun in!!! twitter.com/sourcemusic/st…SOURCEMUSIC@SOURCEMUSIC[공지] 르세라핌 향후 활동 계획 안내346361[공지] 르세라핌 향후 활동 계획 안내 https://t.co/OUZBSFgjebouch. Kim Garam out, Choi Yeonjun in!!! twitter.com/sourcemusic/st…Julia TXT ON TOUR | YEONJUN MC🇪🇸@JuliaTXTkings@wonyonistaa The fastest K-pop idol to be kicked out of a group! #lesserafim #kimgaram youtube.com/shorts/1t90W4O…1@wonyonistaa The fastest K-pop idol to be kicked out of a group!😭 #lesserafim #kimgaram youtube.com/shorts/1t90W4O…ot7 mullet era enthusiast@thvkookooHYBE has just announced the termination of kim garam's contract. however, the group will remain as a 6-member group as tomorrow x together's choi yeonjun successfully slid his way to take over kim garam's place. welcome to lesserafim, main dancer choi yeonjun! baksu 🏻🏻🏻1329157HYBE has just announced the termination of kim garam's contract. however, the group will remain as a 6-member group as tomorrow x together's choi yeonjun successfully slid his way to take over kim garam's place. welcome to lesserafim, main dancer choi yeonjun! baksu 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/JCAj5iexq2As a recap for our readers - Kim Garam was wrapped in school violence rumors in April before her debut with LE SSERAFIM. At the time, HYBE and Source Music released a statement denying the allegations, which began with an online community revelation by an anonymous Person A, who claimed to be the victim.At the time, HYBE and Source Music announced that it was a false fact to defame the idol and foreshadowed legal action against the allegations of school violence.Person A reiterated claims that the ex-LE SSERAFIM member did several things during school, making the case take a new turn. As the accusations quickly spread, more individuals who claimed to be the idol's former schoolmates stepped up to share alleged evidence of Kim Garam being the perpetrator of school violence.❤️JangWony❤️@Jang_Wony12BRO THIS IS INSANE AND AT THE SAME TIME FUNNY WHY!!?!?!! #LESSERAFIM #LESSERAFIMot5 #KIMGARAM twitter.com/SOURCEMUSIC/st…SOURCEMUSIC@SOURCEMUSIC[공지] 르세라핌 향후 활동 계획 안내146470[공지] 르세라핌 향후 활동 계획 안내 https://t.co/OUZBSFgjebBRO THIS IS INSANE AND AT THE SAME TIME FUNNY WHY!!?!?!!😭😭😭 #LESSERAFIM #LESSERAFIMot5 #KIMGARAM twitter.com/SOURCEMUSIC/st…After this, HYBE and Source Music announced that she will take a temporary hiatus from promotions just three weeks after her debut. Now, she is officially expelled from LE SSERAFIM and the agency.This is startling, as back in May, the agency also reported that they wouldn't remove the member. The group will now continue its future activities as a five-member group.Who is LE SSERAFIMThe group's name is an anagram of the phrase - "I'm Fearless" and now consists of five members - Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, and Hong Eun-chae now after member Kim Garam departs from the group. They debuted on May 2, 2022, with the release of their first EP, Fearless.