Seunghan will no longer be part of K-pop band RIIZE after a kissing controversy (Picture: Getty)
K-pop star Hong Seunghan has been removed from popular boyband RIIZE following immense fan backlash to photos of him kissing a woman last year.
The leaked images from August 2023 (which also showed Seunghan smoking) led to demands from more conservative South Korean fans for the music artist, 23, to be removed from the newly-formed boyband RIIZE.
He was placed on a 10-month hiatus. Until now.
Earlier this month, label SM Entertainment announced Seunghan would rejoin his bandmates – Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton – with the hopes of giving ‘the artist and the fans greater joy’.
The decision sparked vitriolic retaliation from certain contingents of fans who began a concerted campaign calling for Seunghan’s removal which involved angry posts on social media, sending funeral wreaths outside SM Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul.
Just 48 hours later, SM Wizard Productions completely backtracked on their decision and released a renewed statement confirming Seunghan would be leaving the band permanently.
The band of seven is now six after conservative fans campaigned for Seunghan’s removal (Picture: Marechal Aurore/ABACA/Shutterstock)
‘We realized that our decision had actually hurt fans more and caused them greater confusion instead,’ the production company told the fanbase (known as BRIIZE) in a statement,
It continued: ‘At the same time, Seunghan expressed his intention to leave the group for the sake of his fellow members and the fans.
‘We respect his decision and hereby announce that Seunghan will be departing from RIIZE permanently, rather than rejoining.’
The label confirmed, however, it would ‘support Seunghan in the future so that he can showcase his talents and follow his dreams.’
Seunghan also shared his own handwritten letter to fans posted to RIIZE’s Weverse account.
He stated that after ‘pondering deeply’ about whether he was ‘causing too much harm to the members and the company’ he ‘only felt worried and apologetic’.
He apologised and thanked his supportive fans despite his ‘many shortcomings’.
The singer reflected: ‘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.’
He penned his own letter after his U-turn removal (Picture: Marechal Aurore/ABACA/Shutterstock)
In a since-deleted post, fellow member Wonbin also addressed any fan confusion, saying: ‘I hope that you guys realize the members have thought about this together again and again, considering this deeply,’ per Billboard.
Wonbin added: ‘I know this post will not be able to erase all of your worries, but I hope that it can comfort you in your confusion, even just a little bit.’
The controversial exit has left many fans distraught at the news, and the hate Seunghan and the company had to endure. On South Korean …read more
Source:: Metro
