Seunghan, a member of the K-pop boy group RIIZE, has officially announced his permanent exit from the group.
The announcement came on Sunday, Oct. 13, just two days after Wizard Production, the SM Entertainment division managing RIIZE, had stated that Seunghan would be returning from a nearly year-long hiatus.
Seunghan debuted with RIIZE in September 2023, but he paused his activities two months later after his photos and videos during his trainee days were leaked and circulated online.
Fans were eager for his return, which was announced on Oct. 11. However, the shift in plans came quickly when both the company and Seunghan concluded that his departure was the best course of action for the group.
According to Wizard Production, Seunghan expressed his personal desire to leave RIIZE in consideration of the group’s members and its fans.
In their official statement which Soompi translated in its report, the agency revealed, “Seunghan has consistently expressed his desire to leave the group for the sake of the members and the fans. Out of respect for the artist’s decision, we are announcing Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE, instead of his joining the group.”
The decision was made after considerable internal discussion within the company, initially believed that Seunghan’s return, after reflecting on past “wrongdoings”, could lead to a new “level of growth” for the group.
“We made this decision after debating it for a long time because we thought that if Seunghan returned after reflecting on his past wrongdoings and RIIZE showed another level of growth as a group, we would be able to give the artist and the fans greater joy,” the agency explained.
However, after receiving feedback from fans, the agency acknowledged that Seunghan’s return had instead caused “confusion” and “hurt” among RIIZE’s dedicated fanbase, known as BRIIZE.
“We ruminated carefully on each and every one of the opinions and responses sent in by fans, and we realized that our decision had actually hurt fans more and caused them greater confusion instead,” it added.
Wizard Production concluded its statement with an apology to the fans and a commitment to continue supporting the remaining six members of RIIZE as they move forward. They also promised to support Seunghan in his future endeavors.
Seunghan also addressed his departure directly to fans through a handwritten letter.
In his letter which was translated in Soompi’s report, he shared his concerns about the impact his presence might have on the group.
“After pondering deeply whether I’ve been thinking only of myself too much, whether I’m causing too much harm to the members and the company, and whether it’s really okay for me to be part of RIIZE, who should be loved, I only felt worried and apologetic,” he wrote.
He added that he did not want to cause further “confusion” or “conflict” among fans and that leaving the group was the “right path” for everyone involved.
“I don’t want to cause any more hurt or confusion for the fans, and I don’t want to harm the members any further, and I also don’t want to hurt the company any further,” he explained his decision.
He expressed his gratitude towards the company and his fellow members for offering him another chance, but he felt it was time to step away.
“I’d like to thank the company and the members, who made efforts to give me another opportunity, and I’m also both sorry and thankful to the people who have cheered me on all this time despite my many shortcomings,” his statement read.
Seunghan emphasized that his concern about harming the relationship between RIIZE and their fans, and is saddened to see them “fighting” because of him.
“I truly do not want the relationship between RIIZE and BRIIZE, who were growing together while supporting one another, to be damaged because of me. It also breaks my heart to see the fans, for whom it should be more than enough to just love RIIZE, fighting with each other because of me.”
His letter concluded, “I will sincerely cheer on RIIZE, whom I love, while hoping that they will receive more love in the future.”
