Okay-Pop singer Seunghan is leaving the boy group RIIZE, in accordance with a social media publish from the group’s official account.
The information comes simply two days after Wizard Manufacturing, the SM Leisure manufacturing workforce in command of the group, introduced the 21-year-old can be making his long-awaited return from a virtually yearlong hiatus.
In a press release 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 can be returning to the group. The short reversal appeared to return as a shock to the group’s fanbase, with most of the publish’s replies and reposts coming from seemingly shocked and upset followers.
Seunghan was placed on an indefinite hiatus in November 2023 after pictures and movies from his private life earlier than the group debuted had been leaked on-line. The leaks confirmed him kissing an unidentified girl 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 partially: “We [Wizard Production] poured our coronary heart and soul into planning out RIIZE even earlier than their debut, and we’ve decided that RIIZE’s subsequent chapter can be much more significant if the seven members had been collectively. Due to this fact, after quite a few discussions with the workers and members concerning the path of the group’s future actions, it has been determined that Seunghan shall be returning to the group.”
The Oct. 13 assertion stated 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 resolution had really harm followers extra and prompted them larger confusion as a substitute.”
“On the similar time, Seunghan has constantly expressed his need to go away the group for the sake of the members and the followers. Out of respect for the artist’s resolution, 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 considering 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 must be cherished, I solely felt anxious and apologetic,” he stated within the assertion, translated by Soompi.
“So I feel that my leaving the group is the appropriate path for everybody. I don’t need to trigger any extra harm or confusion for the followers, and I don’t need to hurt the members any additional, and I additionally don’t need to harm 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 must 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.