Lately, Seunghanthe departure from RIIZE was announced. This decision was made within 48 hours of the announcement that he would be returning after a 10-month hiatus. As a result, many international fans were left confused and heartbroken. Seunghan’s departure from the group seemed to be the result of SM Entertainment succumbing to bullying from some Korean fans who protested his return, sending wreaths to the company, angry at his pre-debut lifestyle, as it was revealed he had a girlfriend and smoked.
As a result, international fans are now protesting and boycotting RIIZE and SM Entertainment unless Seunghan returns. K-Pop stores around the world have joined the boycott, even issuing statements, promising not to stock RIIZE products.
BECAUSE OF THE INJUSTICE OF RIIZE. #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #AlwaysWithSeunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SEUNGHAN #Hong Seung-han @RIIZE_official #BOYCOTT @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/Soq5upQqhB
– Ana! 𝝑𝝔 | sunholover 🍀 (@heepurinz) October 13, 2024
Despite the current high tensions within the fandom, RIIZE is more active than ever, although the members appear to have been affected by Seunghan’s removal. On October 17, RIIZE performed at The BLUE HAPPY FESTIVAL 2024 in Yokohama, Japan. Fans noted that it seemed like the members had intentionally left a gap in the lineups, perhaps indicating the members’ true feelings about the situation.
I understand that you guys want them to speak publicly, but trust me. THAT is expressing their true feelings on this topic!! Riize ALWAYS wanted Seunghan. You are delusional if you really think this is a coincidence! pic.twitter.com/dwkPVAr8vn
— seunghan 5th generation it boy🫧 (@pwonbbin) October 17, 2024
Today’s stop pic.twitter.com/ynsTFdJfzm
— Let’s Guess (@r_meowish) October 17, 2024
Now, RIIZE has held its own Fansign KMStation in Guangzhou, China. Previously, international fans were concerned about the members’ well-being. However, they hoped members could be transparent about how they feel about the issue.
I have to do the bare minimum for today’s idfc fansign no one should be allowed to work where they have to meet ‘fans’ who have dragged them into the dirt by behaving innocently in these circumstances pic.twitter.com/nduehXBEab
— 😕 (@eyesofbam) October 18, 2024
I’m really so concerned about this fansign today, knowing that some fans helped organize and fund the wreaths and failed to make things better with their signs at the airport today. it’s so unfair and inhumane to put Riize through this.
— bay (@soobmeme) October 18, 2024
riize in their next performance pic.twitter.com/1qfveE7qcY
— ِRIIZE IS SEVEN (@ilovjsc) October 17, 2024
During the fansign, the members did not appear in good spirits, naturally.
This is the fakest smile I’ve ever seen on Sungchan’s face. I don’t know, if some of you still think you’re “happy”, you guys should get your eyes checked#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #UnfairExit_Seunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SM_Trashpic.twitter.com/kr8YyJgWUy
— ʙᴏʏᴄᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴍ, ᴡᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ꜱᴇᴜɴɢʜᴀɴ ʙᴀᴄᴋ! (@BaeBaelicious) October 18, 2024
you can say the whole atmosphere is off in the fansign in China, riize I DO NOT want to be there.
— ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ (@binsaxy) October 18, 2024
However, some also appeared to “subtly protest” with hand gestures. For example, Sungchan it appeared to be holding an upside down “7”.
the 7th upside down, exactly sungchan pic.twitter.com/kEnlSyxAq8
— ً (@jeberene) October 18, 2024
SUNGCHAN????they just want their brother back😭pic.twitter.com/fHUQ8UrEe4
— BOYCOTT PROJECT (@SEVENRllZE) October 18, 2024
ok everyone can say how this pose and the 520 pose are a very common pose but are you telling me that Riize chose to do THIS instead of hundreds of others they could do?? pic.twitter.com/58UPWEx2jV
— SEUNGHAN IS BACK 🫧🧡 (@zhangzuihao) October 18, 2024
Anton in particular he appeared to hold up seven fingers, which fans believe was his way of emphasizing that RIIZE is seven, not six members.
Oh my god, ANTON SHOWING 7 FINGERS DURING FANSIGN IN CHINA TODAY, THAT’S IT. THAT’S ALL!!!!!!!
7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣#HongSeunghan_Notice on the progress and results of the complaint_Notice#RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #UnfairExit_Seunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SM_Trash pic.twitter.com/p61gXSYZZi
— him 🫧 RIIZE is 7 years old (@calcifereyes) October 18, 2024
“a safe pose”
and Anton raised 7 fingers 😁 pic.twitter.com/1NmbVYRtVO
— riize file (@riizefiles) October 18, 2024
RIIZE IS SEVEN YUPP ANTONN pic.twitter.com/NtvEIeYlsx
— elisabeth7️⃣🫧 (@wonsunsunn) October 18, 2024
anton being president of BRII7E I see the vision which is literally “😊🖐🏻✌🏻”
always with Seunghan#HongSeunghan_Notice on the progress and results of the complaint_Notice
septornone#RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN
justiceperseunghan pic.twitter.com/WMvxvWzqBw— BOYCOTT PROJECT (@SEVENRllZE) October 18, 2024
On the other hand, some fans questioned the true intentions of the hand gesture. Since the fansign was held in China, some thought that Anton might have made the hand gesture for 520/”Wo ai ni” (我愛你), a Mandarin phrase meaning “I love you.” In China, the number “520” is phonetically similar to “wo ai ni”.
+ they don’t just hold one hand with 5 fingers and the other with 2. they always have to show their fist to symbolize 0 bc it’s complete that way. they do this by showing the numbers one by one on one or both hands.
(credits to the original tiktok owner/source!) pic.twitter.com/FHY0kN3I5P
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
finally, this video I found again from tiktok user @/22ball22.
all this clearly shows that pose 520 is performed one by one on each or one hand to show all 3 numbers and not simply raising only 5 and 2 fingers at the same time FOR A TIME. pic.twitter.com/ydWLGHWGCo
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
I don’t usually use tiktok as a source of information, but Google wasn’t much help and these references are legit.
Thank you, Anton, for doing this. this already means a lot.
let’s keep fighting for Riize and Seunghan, Briize! #NoSevenNoRiize #RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
However, it didn’t look quite right, making fans believe he was making the OT7 sign.
THIS IS HOW YOU DO WO AI NI (520) SIGN https://t.co/9Act8zBM5R
— ً (@jeberene) October 18, 2024
if they deny it, I can’t. but this is how they usually do the 520 pose 😭 https://t.co/SS3MPBXVUS pic.twitter.com/4yIUFDOrMy
— ♡ Seunghan will be back (@talkthetrack) October 18, 2024
As a result, international fans believe the members are making their stance on the issue known with a “subtle protest.”
HELP NOT EVEN A DAY ?????????💀 https://t.co/a6vjpXSelo pic.twitter.com/b7TUMFSn3B
— Ta🪽 (@miuclubb) October 18, 2024
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