Netizens are continuing to discuss the scandal involving LE SSERAFIM member Kim Garam (HYBE's new group). In addition, some netizens also gave some evidence that Kim Garam used to be a fan of BTS while HYBE covered this up. Many people expressed concern that HYBE's attempt to protect this girl would greatly affect the reputation of BTS.

On May 20, HYBE released an official statement detailing Kim Garam's story about why she previously participated in a meeting of the School Violence Countermeasures Committee in junior high school.

In a statement, the management company BTS confirmed that Kim Garam had a file related to a school violence lawsuit because Kim Garam was protecting a classmate. The statement also emphasized that there was no physical violence involved in the incident and that Kim Garam has never spoken rudely to any other artist.

Along with this announcement, HYBE also answered whether or not Kim Garam once had a crush on a member of BTS. HYBE replied that she also never said that she was a fan of a particular male artist. However, netizens have found past photos that go against what HYBE put out in its official statement.

Specifically, in an anonymous post on a Korean forum, there is an old photo of Kim Garam with a BTS sticker on her phone. Netizens confirmed that Kim Garam is a big fan of V and she once said that she would be more intimate with the male idol.

This immediately made netizens feel angry because they felt that HYBE was covering for Kim Garam. In addition, with the detail that Kim Garam confirmed that she would be more intimate with V when she had not even become a trainee, many people thought that she had a great family. Many say her parents may have a close relationship with the HYBE's CEO or the family has a stake in HYBE.

Currently, Kim Garam will temporarily stop working with the LE SSERAFIM group and cancel the group's activities until further notice. However, HYBE's handling makes many people feel extremely uncomfortable. Even the company employees themselves feel ashamed and lose heart. Some of the anonymous posts allegedly made by HYBE employees include:

- Some employees are victims of school violence or have bad memories of their school days even though they were not bullied. Because of Source's poor choice and outdated thinking, all employees became secondary culprits. As an adult, I feel sorry and sorry for the victim when I was bullied as a child, wanted to denounce it but eventually gave up and even tried to commit suicide. I also feel ashamed to have to work for this company.

- I want to quit my job. I have closed my eyes to many other trashy things in the company but don't want to do this shameful company right now. I am disappointed in the company's direction as an employee who has experienced school violence.

- I am extremely disappointed with the people who make the decisions. Confidence in HYBE has bottomed out. Even the fandoms of other artists in the company reacted negatively to this. Will Source take full responsibility? I feel embarrassed saying I work for HYBE.

In addition, many netizens expressed their concern that HYBE's stubborn defense of a young female idol will only cause more trouble for BTS:

- If even this obvious thing they still try to hide, please understand.

- HYPE is too greedy with retribution. So poor for other artists being affected. Worried about BTS's image!

- One wrong decision can bring down the whole company! These days, why they could despise public opinion and social networks like that.

- HYBE ignored the other artist's reputation. But one scandal can bring them all down, especially, since BTS will be affected so much.