Seunghan’s withdrawal from RIIZE continues to make waves on social media and trigger talks about fan culture among local and international news broadcasts.
On October 23, Arirang TV, South Korea’s English-language news channel, discussed the former RIIZE member’s exit just days after his return was confirmed by SM Entertainment, and explored the topic that K-pop artists are held to higher and ethical standards.
“What makes the Korean or the K-pop experience, I wouldn’t say not just unique but different but also a little bit more toxic, is the fact that in addition to the pedestal, there’s a noose,” said Bernie Cho, DFSB Kollective President.
He went on, “The standards are so high that fans don’t want the best version of their favorite artists—they want the perfect version. And we know that’s not possible because everyone’s human.”
Cho further said that if fans continue to apply the “impossible standards” to K-pop artists, these artists will never become stars as they aren’t given room for mistakes to grow and learn from.
He then brought up Seunghan’s withdrawal from RIIZE due to a “compromising photo.”
According to him, international fans couldn’t even figure out what the big deal was since smoking and dating are activities that are “normal for a young adult.”
Cho also talked about how SM Entertainment was terrorized by fans for deciding to bring Seunghan back to the lineup, which led to him leaving so as to not hurt the fandom and company further.
These certain fans, according to Cho, were what bothered him more than anything else.
“They’re not the most, they’re not the majority. They’re just the loudest, and a very vocal, loud minority,” he said. “The fact that they can wield this much power and influence on an artist’s career trajectory is shocking.”
Cho clarified that while some celebrities deserve to be canceled, many deserve a second chance.
“This very tight, perfectionistic fan culture needs to kind of step back and breathe a bit,” he stated.
Seunghan took an indefinite hiatus from the group’s activities in November 2023, only a month after RIIZE debuted, after his pre-debut photos circulated on social media. The images showed him smoking and kissing his then-girlfriend on the lips, and this prompted BRIIZEs (fandom) to demand his exit.
Unfortunately, days after his confirmed return on October 11, 2024, he ultimately decided to leave the group on the 14th.
Through a handwritten letter, he said, “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.”
Watch the Arirang TV’s latest Press Perspective segment below!
