Seunghan’s recent departure from RIIZE has left fans confused and heartbroken, especially since it came just 48 hours after his return was announced following a 10-month hiatus. His departure seems to stem from SM Entertainment’s response to bullying from some Korean fans, who protested his comeback by sending funeral wreaths to the company due to their anger over his pre-debut lifestyle, which included having a girlfriend and smoking.
As a result, international fans are now protesting and boycotting RIIZE and SM Entertainment, demanding Seunghan’s return. K-Pop stores worldwide have joined the boycott, pledging not to stock RIIZE products.
Despite the current tensions within the fandom, RIIZE continues to be active, though the members seem affected by Seunghan’s removal. On October 17, they performed at The BLUE HAPPY FESTIVAL 2024 in Yokohama, Japan, where fans noticed an empty space in their formations, possibly reflecting the members’ true feelings about the situation.
At their KMStation Fansign in China, international fans expressed concern for the members’ well-being but hoped they would be open about their feelings. During the fansign, the members did not appear to be in high spirits.
Some members seemed to “subtly protest” through hand gestures. For example, Sungchan held up an upside-down “7,” while Anton displayed 7 fingers, which fans interpreted as a statement that RIIZE is a seven-member group, not six.
However, some fans speculated about Anton’s gesture, suggesting it could also be a reference to “520” or “Wo ai ni,” a Mandarin phrase meaning “I love you,” as the number 520 sounds similar. Despite this, fans felt that the gesture was more aligned with an OT7 sign.
Ultimately, international fans believe the members are subtly expressing their stance on the situation through these gestures.
Source: Krb
