They believe they never planned Seunghan’s return.
Koreaboo
Just a few days ago, 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
Now, SM Entertainment has unveiled RIIZE Happy Holidays 2025. It features six RIIZE members in a “magic college” concept.
SEASON WISHES 2025 SM ARTIST #RIIZE
Reservations can be made through various online retailers starting Thursday 17 October. pic.twitter.com/fta3mWobK0— RIIZE (@RIIZE_official) October 16, 2024
The post has gone viral with 2.2 million views on X (formerly Twitter) at the time of writing. Many fans protested the post, flooding the comments and pointing out, “RIIZE is 7 years old.”
Many promise not to give money to SM Entertainment anymore.
Some fans also felt that the Happy Holidays the release was a slap in the face to the fact that SM Entertainment never intended for Seunghan to return, as they apparently had the six-member lineup prepped and ready for release.
why did SM give an ot6 season’s greetings for 2025 if they would have brought him back https://t.co/y8GWAA5n3W
— َ (@crashcrowns) October 16, 2024
posting happy new year wishes when it really should be there if the company really wanted it back. this just proves something and I’m seriously so angry. keep boycotting! Don’t commit to anything riize releases.#SMSStandsForBullying #Seunghan was bullied #SaveRIIZEfromSM
— ً (@kswyhee) October 16, 2024
riize seasons greetings made me feel bad like if Seunghan had to come back he just wouldn’t be in seasons greetings lmfao?? would they have done a new take or did they already have 2 versions ready??#SMSStandsForBullying#Seunghan was bullied#SaveRIIZEfromSM
—rina (@kittytenz) October 16, 2024
The way Riize posted that season’s birthday message tells me he would never be there, which is pretty damn WILD.
— Skyy (ᓀ‸ᓂ)| Blonde Doie’s Wife | (@d3aththekiddd) October 16, 2024
Fans suspect that SM Entertainment never wanted Seunghan to return, and briefly brought him back and used some fans’ negative reactions as the reason for his removal.
RIIZE 2025 SEASON GREETINGS were already scheduled without Seunghan. And you want me to believe that during those 10 months of break he couldn’t do the photo shoot with the group??
If his departure was already expected, why did SM handle the situation this way?
— 🐥 (@missbirdy_PWB) October 16, 2024
They just decided to remove Seunghan from the lineup 2 days ago, but they already have OT6 filming pre-scheduled for 2025 SG.
FUCK SM!!! https://t.co/T6ctCkrysm
— Ye⁹ + RIIZE IS 7 (PAUSED) (@_yuriiiipsy) October 16, 2024
I knew it. it was a set. THEY FRAMED SEUNGHAN SO THEY CAN FINALLY HAVE THE EXCUSE TO KICK HIM OUT OF RIIZE, FUCK YOU https://t.co/646ZcGBopC
— ★ (@riizemv) October 16, 2024
SM just proved that they never intended to bring Seunghan back. They knew what the reaction would be and were counting on her “choosing to leave.”
FIND OUT THIS SHITTING COMPANY https://t.co/xh90TW6cRT— 로템✡︎little sunshine🎗️ (@little_woobear) October 16, 2024
However, some fans suspect that Seunghan was involved in the photoshoot. They say some changes appear wrong and rushed.
The synthetic t-shirt is also…
Seunghye wouldn’t take a photo together.. https://t.co/eQNl9OwPIa pic.twitter.com/LVofGNVcSs— Jjangin (@zzangin_z) October 16, 2024
The synthetic t-shirt is just too…
Didn’t Seunghan take a photo with you too?
bad shit, did you all do this in picsart??? https://t.co/3czGsv5dk5
— Jay (@cupidtimes) October 16, 2024
lol this is obviously done last minute because they are the only ones with a different layout than other sm grps https://t.co/nwiTGizlLw
— illa ☆ (@illanohimitsu) October 16, 2024
ELLE Korea also sparked fans by revealing RIIZE as one of their cover stars. Read more below.
The new covers of ELLE Korea’s RIIZE magazine spark reactions
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