“Justice for Seunghan” – Fandoms Unite in Support of Former RIIZE Member After Departure Amid Backlash
As of October 14, 2024, Seunghan has officially left RIIZE, following an extended break and various controversies. Wizard Production, a division of SM Entertainment, made this announcement just days after revealing that the idol would be rejoining the group. This unexpected decision has left many fans feeling disheartened, with an outpouring of support not only from RIIZE’s fanbase, known as Briize, but also across multiple K-pop communities.
Fans are coming together to support Seunghan, advocating for his reinstatement by trending phrases such as:
“JUSTICE FOR SEUNGHAN”, “BringbackRII7E”, and “SMSupportsBullying”
Reasons Behind Seunghan’s Exit from RIIZE
After a much-anticipated comeback on October 11, 2024, Seunghan, who had been on an indefinite hiatus since November 2023, was informed of his departure just a short time later. His break stemmed from the emergence of some photos that were leaked online, depicting him smoking and sharing an intimate moment with a woman, which were said to have been taken prior to his debut.
The backlash that followed was considerable, particularly from conservative K-pop fans, compelling him to retreat from public life. Consequently, his agency imposed a 10-month hiatus on the 21-year-old, while the other six members continued with album releases and live shows.
Fans were ecstatic about Seunghan’s return and hoped he could leave the controversy behind and reestablish his career. However, mere days later, on October 14, 2024, Wizard Production, part of SM Entertainment, announced he would permanently exit RIIZE, a move reportedly influenced by some fans sending funeral wreaths to the agency’s office in Seoul in disapproval of his return.
The news has devastated Seunghan’s supporters, who argue that personal matters should not dictate his status in the group. Many have criticized SM Entertainment for succumbing to a minority of toxic fans exhibiting extreme parasocial behaviors.
In a statement made by the agency, it was revealed that Seunghan chose to leave of his own accord. He also shared a heartfelt handwritten letter with fans via Weverse, which was loosely translated from Korean:
“I concluded that perhaps the best course of action for everyone is for me to step down from the team. I no longer wish to bring confusion or distress to the fans, nor do I want to harm the members or the company. I will continue to wholeheartedly support RIIZE and wish for their increasing success in the future.”
This announcement triggered widespread disappointment among RIIZE’s fans and other K-pop groups like SEVENTEEN, ATEEZ, BTS, MONSTA X, and beyond, who expressed their collective frustration over the idol’s departure.
Numerous fans feel that the situation was mishandled and that SM Entertainment should have provided Seunghan with more support instead of allowing the swirling controversy to end his career abruptly. Fans are vocally requesting his return, emphasizing that an idol’s personal life, including dating, should not be subject to public scrutiny.
A growing movement has emerged, with fans boycotting and massively unfollowing RIIZE’s social media accounts to demonstrate their dissent. So far, neither SM Entertainment nor Wizard Production has publicly addressed these recent events.
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