In various online communities, a recent update about Kim Garam, former LE SSERAFIM, has been drawing divided opinions from K-pop fans. Here's the reason.

Birthday Advertisement For Ex-LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam Raises Brows

On November 10, a recent report about Kim Garam has been spreading on various online communities and SNS, particularly on Twitter.

This update about the former LE SSERAFIM member was about her birthday advertisement posted in downtown Seoul. The ad was organized by Kim Garam's Korean and overseas fans, and is expected to be posted in an outdoor advertisement for a building located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

According to the fan, the video will run for 20 seconds, and the advertisement will be exposed 100 times a day for 18 hours on Wednesday, November 16, Kim Garam's birthday.

When the issue became known, people responded in various ways, and fans who expressed their delight in gifting the idol a birthday ad earned mixed reactions.

Here are some of the comments.

"I wonder if she will even want this."

"Isn't she not a general public now?"

"This is seriously embarrassing."

"There are actually fans with lingering emotions for her? She was promoted for only a month, and even before she debuted she was embroiled in a school violence controversy, why do you like her so much?"

"They are only making it hard for her."

Reason Kim Garam Left LE SSERAFIM

ALSO READ: Former LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam Explains Her Side on the Bullying Controversy

Kim Garam, in May, was embroiled in a controversy over school violence as past photos poured out shortly after she debuted in HYBE x Source Music's first girl group, LE SSERAFIM.

In particular, photos taken in front of high-level blackboard paintings and Facebook abusive messages spread, causing controversy.

Crucially, victim Yoo Eun Seo (alias) attested to Kim Garam's bullying claims and revealed her disposition of getting the school violence committee's measure No. 5.

Eventually, the criticism leads Kim Garam to withdraw from the team in July amid controversy.

Later, Kim Garam said through her acquaintance A's Instagram in August:

"I've never hit anyone or used violence. I've never been forced to transfer. I've never drunk or smoked. I've never bullied or hurt anyone. I was just a normal student."

Despite denying accusations, her image was already tainted and it would be hard to create her image again even if she decided to pursue a career in the K-pop scene.

Contrary to the unfortunate status of Kim Garam, LE SSERAFIM found its way into the K-pop scene and has been showing signs of prolonged success.

On October 17, the quintet released its second mini-album, "ANTIFRAGILE," and even more than three weeks after its release, it is firmly showing its impact at its consistent rank atop of the domestic and overseas charts.

As of Nov. 10, the title track with the same name ranked third in the top 100 on the MelOn real-time chart, the largest music site in Korea.

In the case of overseas charts, it entered the Billboard main chart "Billboard 200," a U.S. music media, for three consecutive weeks, and ranked 44th and 28th in "Billboard Global 200" and "Billboard Global (excluding the U.S.), respectively.

In addition, LE SSERAFIM achieved the feat of ranking 64th in the "Artist 100."

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Written by Eunice Dawson.