“Fans Express Mixed Reactions as RIIZE Appears on ELLE Magazine Cover Without Seunghan”

On October 16, 2024, RIIZE graced the cover of ELLE Korea magazine featuring just six members. This release occurred only three days after the shocking news of the departure of Seunghan, the group’s seventh member. Fans of the former member have been vocal about their desire for his return, leading to protests against RIIZE’s ongoing activities, including their latest magazine editorial.

The magazine cover featuring the remaining six members sparked a divided response among admirers, many of whom yearn for a stunning revival of Seunghan in the lineup. K-pop enthusiasts took to social media platforms to express their frustrations, emphasizing their wish to see RIIZE reunite as a complete seven-member group.

“We need Seunghan in between.”

“1 missing RIIZE is 7,”- stated another user.

“If only SEUNGHAN were there,”- a fan lamented.

“Releasing this to distract us from Seunghan, uh huh,”- noted an X user.

As the boycott continues, supporters of RIIZE have unfollowed and unsubscribed from the group’s official social media, calling for a boycott of this ELLE magazine issue as well.

“RIIZE is 7. Without Seunghan we don’t care,”- commented another user.

“DO NOT BUY THIS MAGAZINE. BOYCOTT,”- a BRIIZE insisted.

“We won’t be buying thanks,”- another fan added.

In the meantime, the upcoming November issue of ELLE Korea will feature notable figures including actress Jun Ji-hyun from My Love from the Star, along with actor Gong Yoo from Train to Busan and Stray Kids’ Felix. These four Louis Vuitton ambassadors, representing various generations and industries, symbolize ‘THE NOW.’

This unique edition celebrates the 32nd anniversary of ELLE Korea’s November issue, recognized as the longest-running fashion magazine in South Korea. The collaboration between ELLE and Louis Vuitton will produce a special release consisting of 12 different magazine covers scheduled for distribution around October 21, 2024, encompassing interviews and pictorials from the featured stars.

A variety of content, including an exclusive interview film focusing on ‘style’ insights, will also be available through ELLE’s YouTube channel.

Global K-Pop Shops Halt RIIZE Merchandise Sales Following Seunghan’s Exit

Following Seunghan’s departure, fans have organized impactful social media boycotts. An essential aspect of this protest includes refraining from purchasing albums and merchandise related to the group. This movement has reached global K-pop merchandise suppliers, notably SubK Shop, one of the largest retailers in the United States.

On October 16, SubK Shop revealed that, in light of recent events, they would temporarily suspend the importation of RIIZE products to honor their fans, customers, and the affected artist.

SubK Shop, part of SubKulture Entertainment, is a tour management company that collaborates with SM Entertainment to oversee the tours of various artists, including SHINee, Red Velvet, and NCT.

Additionally, another significant K-pop merchandise retailer, Seoul Stop, based in the Philippines, has announced that they will no longer restock any of RIIZE’s albums and products in support of the artist’s unjust exit. This account boasts nearly 150,000 followers on the social media platform X.

RIIZE debuted on September 4, 2023, with their single “Get A Guitar.”Initially, four of the seven members—Shotaro, Sungchan, Eunseok, and Seunghan—were showcased through their participation in the SM Rookies program alongside NCT. Shotaro and Sungchan made their debut with NCT in 2020 before departing in May 2023.

Two months after their debut, SM Entertainment announced an indefinite hiatus for Seunghan due to controversy surrounding leaked pre-debut photos. After a ten-month period, the company stated they would reinstate his activities in November 2024. However, they quickly reversed this decision due to backlash from the fanbase, resulting in the announcement of Seunghan’s departure within 48 hours.

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