Fans Show Support as Super Junior’s Leeteuk Backs Seunghan After His RIIZE Departure Amid Controversy

On October 13, 2024, Seunghan was officially dismissed from the K-pop group RIIZE. Following this controversial event, Leeteuk, the leader of Super Junior, publicly voiced his support for the former member. Leeteuk shared a post from X user @itsxelf_, which resonated with fans advocating for Seunghan. The tweet he shared expressed:

“What happened to RIIZE’s Seunghan and the group overall is truly disheartening. It’s regrettable that SM, like many other artists, tends to prioritize the desires of Korean fans. This serves as a reminder that things remain unchanged, as we saw with Henry Lau in 2007, and it continues today.”

Leeteuk retweeted the post (Image via X/@itsxelf_) — Leeteuk shared the tweet (Image via X/@itsxelf_)

For those unaware, Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE was sparked by considerable fan backlash after images of him with his alleged ex-girlfriend and smoking surfaced online. Consequently, fans rallied online to express their displeasure regarding his removal while also showing appreciation for Leeteuk’s supportive stance. One X user exemplified this sentiment with the comment:

“Leeteuk retweeting this speaks volumes, lmao.”

User praises Leeteuk's tweet (Image via X/@terpalingkun) — A user praised Leeteuk’s reaction (Image via X/@terpalingkun)

Numerous fans echoed this sentiment, indicating that Leeteuk indeed comprehends the situation, as some of his groupmates have faced similar challenges.

“Leeteuk truly grasps the situation since his own group members have experienced this kind of treatment. Let’s create a miracle and support those who don’t appreciate RIIZE,” wrote one fan.

“I really wish this could inspire a series of idols to show solidarity with Seunghan,” added another supporter.

“Anyone with an ounce of empathy would be hurt by the bullying Seunghan faced. Thank you, Leeteuk,” expressed another fan.

As many fans called for more SM Entertainment artists to lend their voices to support Seunghan, others regarded Leeteuk as the ‘idol leader’ within SM.

“I need more senior artists in SM to do the same: show their support for Seunghan. They understand how detrimental SM and its management can be. It’s too bad RIIZE is still a young group; otherwise, things might have turned out differently,” commented an X user.

“I’m not at all surprised that Leeteuk retweeted this (or that his team did). As a leader and one of the more senior figures in the company, it makes perfect sense,” noted another fan.

“If the leader shared this, it indicates he saw it and that other SM artists did too. They must be weary of SM’s nonsense, which likely explains why so many have left the company. This holds significant weight,” another fan remarked.

“Everyone within SM recognizes Leeteuk as the leader of idols for a reason,” commented a fan.

SM Entertainment Previously Discussed Seunghan’s Potential Reinstatement

RIIZE made its debut in September 2023, but by November 2023, Seunghan announced a hiatus amidst various allegations of misconduct, including leaked photos with his alleged ex-girlfriend and images of him smoking, which attracted considerable media attention in South Korea.

On October 11, 2024, SM Entertainment and its affiliate Wizard Production, overseeing RIIZE, released an announcement suggesting that Seunghan would gradually rejoin group activities after his suspension. Despite some fans expressing excitement about his return, a faction condemned his reinstatement and protested against it. Ultimately, Seunghan’s departure was finalized on October 13, 2024.

Leeteuk’s repost of this situation parallels an earlier controversy involving Henry Lau, a former member of Super Junior. Introduced along with Zhoumi in 2008, Henry was initially sidelined from the main Super Junior lineup, facing significant backlash from fans opposed to his inclusion.

This backlash stemmed from fans’ protests against Super Junior being labeled a project group. Following Henry’s first performance in 2007, he encountered harsh opposition, with supporters chanting slogans like ‘Henry Out.’ Ultimately, he departed from the sub-unit in 2018 after his contract with SM Entertainment ended.

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