Former RIIZE member, Seunghan, has officially left the group following multiple controversies that surfaced just months after his debut. His departure comes shortly after SM Entertainment had announced his return from a hiatus. The situation has raised questions among fans and the K-pop community, with many wondering how it escalated to this point. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the events that led to his exit.

Pre-debut Leaked Footage with Speculated Former Girlfriend

In August 2023, a month before RIIZE made their debut, Seunghan found himself in the center of a scandal. Private photos of him with his ex-girlfriend were leaked online. These images showed the couple in intimate settings, including one where they were seen kissing in bed. This sparked rumors that Seunghan had taken his then-girlfriend, who was rumored to be a minor, to a hotel. However, these claims were never confirmed, and no legal action or official statement followed.

RIIZE’s Debut

RIIZE debuted as a seven-member K-pop boy group under SM Entertainment in September 2023. The original lineup included Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee, and Anton. Their debut single, Get a Guitar, quickly gained popularity among K-pop fans. RIIZE’s most recent release, their repackaged EP Riizing: Epilogue, celebrated their one-year anniversary in September 2024.

Despite their growing success, Seunghan’s pre-debut scandal had already caused controversy, which would only intensify in the following months.

Allegedly Badmouthing LE SSERAFIM’s Eunchae

In November 2023, another controversy emerged when a private Instagram live video between Seunghan and Soobin from TOMORROW X TOGETHER was leaked. Initially, the video was misinterpreted due to a mistranslation. It appeared that Seunghan was mocking LE SSERAFIM’s Eunchae, who had worked as a co-MC with Soobin.

Although the mistranslation was eventually corrected and Seunghan was cleared of making any inappropriate remarks, the damage had been done. The leaked video had already garnered significant negative attention, putting more pressure on Seunghan and SM Entertainment.

Alleged Smoking Pictures

Only a day after the Instagram live incident, more content surfaced, reportedly showing Seunghan smoking. In the leaked photos, a man resembling Seunghan was holding a cigarette close to his lips.

Smoking, especially for idols, is frowned upon in South Korea due to the high moral standards expected from public figures.

The issue escalated when someone claiming to be an acquaintance of Seunghan shared further allegations via Instagram stories. This individual accused Seunghan of smoking and drinking in public without the company’s consent. They also claimed that Seunghan had discriminated against other trainees and had inappropriate interactions with females from different agencies. However, these accusations were based solely on rumors and were never proven.

Temporary Hiatus

Following these incidents, SM Entertainment announced in November 2023 that Seunghan would take an indefinite hiatus. The agency expressed that he was reflecting on his past behavior and needed time away from group activities to focus on personal growth. During this time, RIIZE continued promoting as a six-member group.

Confirms Return from Hiatus

On October 11, 2024, SM Entertainment confirmed that Seunghan would officially end his hiatus and rejoin RIIZE for group activities in November 2024. The agency released a statement saying that Seunghan had deeply reflected on his past mistakes and was committed to making amends. They requested fans to welcome him back as he had been working hard to improve his skills and attitude.

Despite this announcement, the backlash continued. Some fans were not happy with Seunghan’s return and preferred RIIZE to remain as a six-member group.

Seunghan’s Exit from RIIZE

Only two days after the announcement of his return, on October 13, 2024, SM Entertainment revealed that Seunghan had decided to leave RIIZE. In a heartfelt letter to fans, Seunghan acknowledged that his actions had negatively impacted both the group and the company. He explained that he had been thinking too much about himself, which led him to question whether it was right for him to stay in the group.

Seunghan ultimately chose to step down, stating that it was the best decision for the group to move forward without him. His departure marks the end of a turbulent journey with RIIZE, which had been marred by scandals since before his official debut.

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