Okay-Pop singer Seunghan is leaving the boy group RIIZE, in keeping with a social media submit from the group’s official account.
The information comes simply two days after Wizard Manufacturing, the SM Leisure manufacturing staff in cost of the group, introduced the 21-year-old could be making his long-awaited return from an almost yearlong hiatus.
In an announcement posted to RIIZE’s official account on X (previously Twitter) on Oct. 13, translated by Soompi, Wizard Manufacturing apologized to BRIIZE (the official identify for the group’s fanbase) for “hurting” and “inflicting confusion” with their Oct. 11 announcement that Seunghan could be returning to the group. The fast reversal appeared to come back as a shock to the group’s fanbase, with a lot of the submit’s replies and reposts coming from seemingly shocked and upset followers.
Seunghan was placed on an indefinite hiatus in November 2023 after photographs and movies from his private life earlier than the group debuted have been leaked on-line. The leaks confirmed him kissing an unidentified lady in a mattress and smoking a cigarette.
The Oct. 11 assertion, translated by Soompi, that introduced Seunghan’s return expressed optimism concerning the group’s future, explaining that the singer was anticipated to return to group actions in November.
The assertion learn partly: “We [Wizard Production] poured our coronary heart and soul into planning out RIIZE even earlier than their debut, and now we have decided that RIIZE’s subsequent chapter could be much more significant if the seven members have been collectively. Subsequently, after quite a few discussions with the employees and members concerning the course of the group’s future actions, it has been determined that Seunghan will likely be returning to the group.”
The Oct. 13 assertion mentioned the corporate thought Seunghan returning after “reflecting on his previous wrongdoings” would “be capable to give the artist and the followers larger pleasure.” It continued: “Nonetheless, the announcement of his return, we ruminated rigorously on each one of many opinions and responses despatched in by followers, and we realized that our choice had really damage followers extra and induced them larger confusion as a substitute.”
“On the similar time, Seunghan has persistently expressed his want to depart the group for the sake of the members and the followers. Out of respect for the artist’s choice, we’re asserting Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE, as a substitute of his becoming a member of the group,” the assertion continued.
In a handwritten letter posted to fan platform Weverse, Seunghan defined his departure from the group. “After pondering deeply whether or not I’ve been pondering solely of myself an excessive amount of, whether or not I’m inflicting an excessive amount of hurt to the members and the corporate, and whether or not it’s actually okay for me to be a part of RIIZE, who needs to be liked, I solely felt anxious and apologetic,” he mentioned within the assertion, translated by Soompi.
“So I feel that my leaving the group is the proper path for everybody. I don’t need to trigger any extra damage or confusion for the followers, and I don’t need to hurt the members any additional, and I additionally don’t need to damage the corporate any additional,” he continued within the assertion.
The singer added within the assertion he didn’t need the connection between RIIZE and its followers to be “broken.” “It additionally breaks my coronary heart to see the followers, for whom it needs to be greater than sufficient to simply love RIIZE, combating with one another due to me,” he wrote.
On the time of publication, a Change.Org petition created on Oct. 13 titled “We would like seunghan again! Riize is 7!!!!!” posted by a consumer named Lauren Lim had garnered over 85,000 signatures.
RIIZE has not launched any additional statements.
