Seunghan’s Departure Causes Over 14,000 Followers to Unfollow RIIZE’s Twitter (X) Account

After SM Entertainment’s official announcement regarding Seunghan’s departure, RIIZE’s verified account on X, under the handle @RIIZE_official, experienced a staggering loss of over 14,000 followers within just 24 hours. This drop followed backlash from segments of the group’s fanbase.

Prior to this announcement on October 14, the account had an impressive following of more than 809,000, which plummeted to approximately 767,000 at the time of this report. The significant decline in followers can be directly linked to the controversy surrounding Seunghan, who had been on hiatus since August 2023.

The idol’s break was ignited by the emergence of pre-debut photos and videos that created considerable turmoil in South Korea. The leaked materials allegedly depicted Seunghan kissing a woman rumored to be his former girlfriend and reportedly smoking while he was underage.

These revelations stirred a wave of dissent among fans, with some denouncing his behavior as unfit for an idol and calling for his expulsion from the group. As a response, SM Entertainment publicly stated that Seunghan would be taking an indefinite break from all group-related activities to contemplate his actions.

A Comprehensive Timeline of Events Leading to Seunghan’s Departure from RIIZE

Following the announcement of his hiatus, the uncertainty surrounding Seunghan’s future with RIIZE persisted for several months with no word from the agency. However, on October 11, 2024, SM Entertainment unexpectedly informed fans of the idol’s return to the group.

The news was met with enthusiasm by fans who had eagerly anticipated his comeback, leading many to celebrate on social media with the hashtag “#RIIZEis7″to express their joy at the reinstatement of the original seven-member lineup.

Nevertheless, this decision faced intense backlash from a faction of the fandom, referred to as ‘OT6′ fans, who felt that Seunghan’s previous actions had caused irreversible harm to the group’s reputation.

These fans expressed their discontent both online and in real life, with some even sending funeral wreaths to SM Entertainment’s headquarters—an act that elicited mixed reactions from the wider K-pop community. Many perceived this protest as excessive and disrespectful.

Reacting to the rising criticism, SM Entertainment issued an apology on October 14 regarding the confusion surrounding Seunghan’s potential return and confirmed his exit from RIIZE. The statement expressed the company’s hope that this situation would allow him to reflect on his errors and mature alongside the group. Ultimately, however, the backlash forced them to rethink their initial stance.

In a heartfelt social media post, Seunghan voluntarily chose to leave the group, emphasizing his wish to avert further division among fans and safeguard the group’s image. He expressed remorse for the controversies tied to his return.

In his letter, he shared that he had spent an extensive period contemplating the potential impact of his return on the group and concluded that stepping down was the most prudent decision.

Seunghan acknowledged the pain of witnessing fans split over his role in the group and stressed that he did not want to inflict any further confusion or distress on RIIZE’s dedicated fanbase.

While some fans grieve Seunghan’s departure, others view it as an essential step for the group to progress. Moving forward as a six-member ensemble, RIIZE is set to continue its evolution in the future.

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