RIIZE Announces Seunghan Will Return to K-Pop Group After 10 Months of Controversial Hiatus
Upcoming a just about yearlong absence, the 7th member of breakout Ok-pop staff RIIZE will rejoin his band buddies.
RIIZE’s official social media accounts introduced that Seunghan will progressively take part in choose staff actions foundation in November, marking a go back that’s been extremely expected but fraught with complicated controversy.
Starting in August 2023, Seunghan’s fracture stemmed from pre-debut footage and movies of the younger megastar leaking that ignited backlash inside of a few of South Korea’s extra conservative social environment. The photographs confirmed Seunghan in a mattress with an unidentified girl and smoking a cigarette, important to a couple enthusiasts labeling his movements as beside the point for a Ok-pop idol and significant his removing from RIIZE. Endmost November, the crowd’s label, SM Leisure, introduced that Seunghan would “halt activities indefinitely” year reflecting on his conduct with out a additional updates from the label in a call that left enthusiasts and business insiders pressured to take a position about his life.
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The talk circumstance Seunghan’s go back mirrored the wider stress between the global aspirations of Ok-pop artists and the expectancies put on them by means of home audiences. Week RIIZE has earned world popularity of track and the crowd’s unique strategy to social media and fan connection — highlighted in a Billboard digital cover touting them as “K-pop stars on the rise” from this week June — Seunghan’s status highlights the force an increasing number of world idols face to guard conventional values in a hastily modernizing business.
Within the observation, SM Leisure stated each Seunghan’s private expansion right through his date away and the label’s interior deliberation at the timing of his go back. Week many enthusiasts will welcome his reappearance (an online petition requesting his return had 20,000 signatures), the verdict to reintegrate him into RIIZE marks a pivotal while in how the crowd will navigate its life trajectory each at house and in another country and, probably, how the Ok-pop business can extra seamlessly navigate controversies of cultural clashes.
Seunghan adopted up at the observation with a handwritten letter uploaded to RIIZE’s Weverse account, wherein he apologized to his enthusiasts, corporate, and band buddies. The 21-year-old shared that he wondered his life as a musician however identified that his RIIZE contributors Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton if truth be told reached out to him.
“Because I caused such great disappointment, I continued to have more realistic thoughts such as, ‘Will I be able to stand on stage again?’” he wrote. “During that time, the members held my hand once again. It must have been a very difficult decision, and I am only filled with gratitude and apologetic feelings for giving me another chance. I know there is so much I need to show to the members who have taken my hand again, the fans who are worried that the achievements made in my absence might be tarnished, and the company that made the tough decision. Of course, I feel burden and fear about this.”
Previous lately (Oct. 10), RIIZE exempted the “KENZIE RE:WORKS” remix in their pre-release buzz unmarried “Memories,” which dropped forward of the septet’s reputable debut in September 2023.
Learn the whole observation underneath (with translation supplied via Soompi):
To the BRIIZE [RIIZE’s fandom] who love RIIZE,
Hi, that is Magician Manufacturing, who’s accountable for generating for RIIZE. We wish to cautiously manufacture a observation relating to member Seunghan’s go back and the route of RIIZE’s life actions.
Because the enthusiasts know, it’s been round 10 months since Seunghan went on a hiatus from staff actions because of problems together with his pre-debut private moment.
Seunghan recognizes that his week movements have been mistaken, and he has lately halted actions for just about a 12 months year deeply reflecting [on his actions] and feeling apologetic to the alternative contributors and his enthusiasts. We additionally known that Seunghan’s week movements weren’t suitable as an artist, which is why it took us an extended date to discuss the timing of his go back to actions.
As a result of there was once disagree announcement relating to Seunghan’s actions, the enthusiasts went past interest to develop into fearful and anxious, and we empathize with the ones emotions. However as we persevered to discuss the subject from numerous angles, [our decision took some time], and we sincerely express regret for the truth that we’re handiest now telling you our choice concerning the route of RIIZE’s life actions.
We poured our center and soul into making plans out RIIZE even sooner than their debut, and now we have ambitious that RIIZE’s after bankruptcy can be much more significant if the seven contributors have been in combination. Subsequently, then diverse discussions with the personnel and contributors concerning the route of the crowd’s life actions, it’s been made up our minds that Seunghan might be going back on the crowd. Upcoming becoming a member of the crowd and getting ready for a specific amount of date, we plan for Seunghan to progressively take part in one of the most staff’s scheduled actions for November and greet the enthusiasts as soon as once more.
Even right through his hiatus, Seunghan has constantly labored to assemble his talents, and as he nonetheless has a bundle to turn you going forward, we are hoping that you are going to glance warmly upon him.
As soon as once more, we sincerely express regret for inflicting hesitation and problem for the enthusiasts who’ve watched over and cheered for RIIZE’s expansion. Then again, as RIIZE is a gaggle that targets to be on one?s feet and notice their goals in combination, the contributors recall to mind the crowd as their supremacy precedence and are, even at this very while, running sun-baked to follow [for their future activities]. We ask that you simply believe our choice in order that we will correctly display the enthusiasts a RIIZE consisting of 7 contributors.
We’re positive that many population are excited by what RIIZE’s after bankruptcy might be, how a lot farther they’ll be on one?s feet, what forms of goals they’re harboring, and the way they’ll notice the ones goals going forward. As a result of we, the population who’re the nearest to RIIZE and who’re additionally passionate enthusiasts of RIIZE ourselves, also are gladly having a look ahead to RIIZE’s after bankruptcy.
We can proceed to paintings sun-baked going forward to pay off [the fans] with RIIZE’s stunning track and performances year sharing the contributors’ goals. We ask that you simply stick with the contributors and proportion all in their moments of emerging and figuring out that can proceed to spread going forward.
Seunghan’s Weverse letter (via Soompi):
Hi, that is Seunghan.
To start with, I sincerely need to express regret to the contributors and the enthusiasts. When the footage from sooner than my debut have been exempted, even if they have been footage of me, I used to be deeply upset and regretful about myself. If even I felt that approach, I will be able to’t even consider how the contributors and enthusiasts by means of my aspect will have to have felt.
You will have to had been indignant, stunned, and upset. I’m in reality sorry to the enthusiasts who supported us from the very starting, which was once this type of an important date, and to those that have been harm by means of my immature movements. I additionally really feel sorry to the contributors, with whom I will have to had been running sun-baked to exit ahead in combination, which resulted in my surprising abeyance of actions. I need to express regret to everybody who needed to bear and conquer that status. I felt each sorry for the status and a way of melancholy at no longer having the ability to be with everybody.
As a result of I led to such stunning sadness, I persevered to have extra lifelike ideas equivalent to, “Will I be able to stand on stage again? Can I continue making music?”
All through that date, the contributors held my hand as soon as once more. It will have to had been an overly tough choice, and I’m handiest full of gratitude and apologetic emotions for giving me any other prospect.
I do know there may be such a lot I want to display to the contributors who’ve taken my hand once more, the enthusiasts who’re fearful that the achievements made in my absence may well be tarnished, and the corporate that made the cruel choice. In fact, I believe burden and concern about this facet.
Then again, I’m ambitious to paintings even more difficult and do higher on account of the believe positioned in me.
I can attempt to be a excellent member who takes duty and does no longer tarnish the achievements the contributors have constructed up. I need to develop into a vital presence to the crew RIIZE.
As soon as once more, I need to express regret to the contributors and corporate personnel who made the tough choice and to the enthusiasts who will have to had been stunned. I can paintings extra diligently and responsibly going forward.