RIIZE has rightfully been recognized as the potential next-generation leader in K-pop's ongoing international crossover, thanks in large part to its refreshing embrace of accessibility. But the way her label, K-pop giant SM Entertainment, has handled a controversy involving one of the group's original members has provided a high-stakes window into the ongoing tension between South Korean artists balancing the demands of international careers with the most traditional of the country. , accepted social norms.
When SM introduced the lineup of RIIZE in July 2023 through 27 casual Instagram photos that wouldn't look out of place on any influencer's page, it set a bar for how its seven members – Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton – meant to connect with fans online in a relatable way; as Eunseok explained during the RIZE Los Angeles interview for Advertising signIn the recent digital cover story, the team wanted to share “a lot of images from our daily lives and intimate [moments] on social media.”
But only six members of RIZE participated in the cover. The interviews for the track came almost exactly six months after SM announced that Seunghan would be “ceasing his activities” with RIIZE following a leak of private photos and videos prior to RIIZE in August 2023 showing him kissing an unknown woman woman in bed and smoking a cigarette. Though tame by Western standards, the content went viral in South Korea, a country that has undergone rapid modernization but remains socially conservative — values that extend to the parasocial relationships fans have with South Korean music stars. Some fans condemned Seunghan's actions – which they deemed unbecoming of a K-pop idol – and protested his removal even before the band's much-anticipated debut.
Prior to the release of RIIZE's acclaimed single 'Get a Guitar' in early September, Seunghan, then 19, went to the group's Instagram account on August 30 to “sincerely apologize to the fans who support RIIZE,” saying that he “damaged our team through personal issues…all due to my carelessness.” Adding that he hadn't faced the situation earlier out of fear and nervousness, Seunghan said he “thought it over a lot” and promised to “put the team first” by being more careful both on and off stage.
However, across influential Korean websites and forums dedicated to discussing – and, more often than not, destroying – K-pop celebrities, criticism of Seunghan continued even after “Get a Guitar” and “ Talk Saxy' that followed in October. the praises.
On November 22, 2023, SM Entertainment raise an alert that Seunghan “felt deeply sorry and thinks about himself for causing disappointment and turmoil not only to the group and members but also to the fans due to issues regarding his personal life that were leaked and circulated.”
While SM noted that the content leaks were maliciously edited — calling them “serious defamation” and promising legal action — the label still agreed to “indefinitely suspend [Seunghan’s] activities.” According to his statement at the time, Seunghan “also conveyed his intention to stop activities.” The label “considered it too difficult for him to continue activities through this situation.” On the same day, via RIIZE's Weverse account, Seunghan shared in a handwritten letter that he was “reflecting deeply” on his “careless actions from the past” and apologized to the group's fans (known as BRIIZE), RIIZE members and staff label.
RIIZE members didn't mention Seunghan when talking to me Advertising sign or at their LA concert, and a non-SM representative made multiple requests that Advertising sign don't mention Seunghan in the digital cover interview. SM Entertainment has responded to questions about Seunghan's status in the group, and the company has not commented on the legal actions it is taking on Seunghan's behalf. SM company website still lists Seunghan as an artist and member of RIIZE. With its publication Advertising signHis digital cover for RIIZE, popular English-language websites covering Korean entertainment was mentioned in Seunghan's mention in the story. Koreaboo famous that he “specifically mentioned Seunghan as a current member, which some media sources have not done since his indefinite hiatus began,” which TheUBJ.com echoed, saying that Seunghan is “often left out by other media.” The sites suggest how, in South Korea, K-pop media coverage tends to be heavily controlled by management teams, requiring questions before interviews and approval of text before publication. (Advertising sign(its editorial policy does not allow subjects to moderate questions or exercise editorial input.)
Now, as they try to reach out to RIIZE's growing international fan base, the various parties involved in the group – SM Entertainment, SM's new majority shareholder Kakao and RIIZE's US label partner RCA Records – are facing a different set of fans: those who they ask for an explanation of Seunghan's situation and an update on his future with RIZE.
At press time, nearly 19,000 had signed a petition titled “Upholding Artists' Dignity: A Call to SM Entertainment” demanding legal action regarding the “invasion of privacy” as well as an “immediate end to Seunghan's “indefinite hiatus”. A small but loud crowd began chanting “RIIZE is seven” and “Seunghan” before the band returned for their encore. similar chants erupted during RIIZE's fan concert a few days earlier in Mexico City. In late May, a behind-the-scenes video from an interview with RIIZE at the Tecate Emblema festival went viral, showing a member of the group's team asking a host to modify a question that said “six in the team.” Some fans are even calling for a boycott of RIIZE's music until a clarification.
During its three decades as a leader in K-pop, SM Entertainment has gained plenty of experience in negotiating such situations. At two different times in Super Junior's career Kangin charged with DUIs. He initially took a two and a half year hiatus from the boy band and went on another hiatus before finally retiring from Super Junior after his second offense. remains signed to SM today as a one-act and actor.
More recently, in 2018, SM introduced Lucas as a member of NCT through the band's China-based split unit WayV. Lucas was also a member of the supergroup SM SuperM. In August 2021, several women claimed to have had affairs with the star supposed had deceived them and/or subjected them to alleged “gas lighting”. Lucas quickly faded from the spotlight before officially leaving NCT and WayV in 2023 — though he remained signed to SM and made his solo debut with the EP Renegade in April.
On the other side of the spectrum, stood SM Chen of EXO when “Dozens of protesters” took to the streets to demand his departure from the group after the singer announced in January 2020 his plans to marry his girlfriend as well as his fiancee's pregnancy.
Like Lucas, artists who leave their groups and labels after behavior deemed distasteful by K-pop standards often return successfully as soloists, though they rarely achieve the same commercial success as their previous groups. While no official news regarding Seunghan's future has been shared yet, rumours of the 20-year-old attending a Korean “sting school”, possibly in preparation for college exams, have emerged. While some K-pop stars pursue both music and their studies (all seven members of BTS have university degrees), some wonder if this signals his exit from entertainment.
For now – even with Seunghan's future with RIIZE hanging in the balance and fans complaining about his barely justified absence – RIIZE still seems to be living up to its name. The group's latest single, “Boom Boom Bass,” released on June 17, has already garnered more than 12 million views for its official music video and RIIZING – The 1st Mini album (released June 18) has already sold more than one million physical copies worldwide, according to South Korea's Real Time album Sales Hanteo Chart website. Make it what you want: into an album track “Talk Saxy”, Seunghan's vocals are still there.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/riize-seunghan-explained-1235714722/
