"We will continue to respond strongly without compromise" — SM Entertainment announces legal action against malicious posts targeting Seunghan & RIIZE

On October 17, 2024, SM Entertainment announced its legal response to the infringement of the rights of its artists, RIIZE and Seunghan. They released two statements, one for RIIZE's former member and the other for existing RIIZE members, on their official X account.

The agency announced strict legal actions against illegal acts including the production and dissemination of false information, personal attack, insult, and slander against both the former member and existing members of RIIZE. The statement concerning the 21-year-old former member of RIIZE, said:

"We will take legal action against all illegal acts related to Seunghan, including the above-mentioned acts, as soon as the damage is confirmed, and we will continue to respond strongly without compromise or leniency."

This announcement comes after the former member of RIIZE received funeral wreaths and extreme backlash from Korean netizens upon the news of his return to the group on October 11, 2024. In response, Seunghan announced that he would leave the team on October 13, 2024.

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SM Entertainment to file lawsuits as response to defamation of RIIZE and Seunghan

SM Entertainment posted two separate statements for Seunghan and RIIZE. The statement concerning the 21-year-old singer highlighted that the company has continuously monitored malicious posts and comments containing false information, personal attacks, insults, and slander against the artist since his debut.

In addition, they revealed that the company has already collected a significant amount of evidence and will respond by filing complaints against various illegal acts. They also informed the audience that writing false information, maliciously reproducing it, and indiscriminately distributing it is a clear criminal act.

For the existing members of RIIZE, including Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton, the company highlighted that they received malicious posts and comments threatening and defaming them through fan reports and their own monitoring. They stated that the company has been actively filing lawsuits and will be providing updates on the progress of these cases.

Similar to Seunghan's statement, the agency informed that dissemination or creation of malicious rumors or manipulation of information is a criminal act. They emphasized that strong legal actions will be taken against those negatively targeting RIIZE across social media platforms.

"We reiterate that we will respond to these illegal actions without settlement or leniency, and we ask that you avoid becoming involved in such incidents."

Lastly, the company thanked the fans for discovering and submitting reports to protect the group. The statements have received mixed reactions from fans, who are displeased over a delayed response. While they appreciate the statements pursuing strong legal action, the fans believe that if such statements were released before or at the time of Seunghan's return, then he would have not left the group.

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International fans of the group have been actively boycotting the group's activities following the singer's departure from the group. They demand the 21-year-old's return to the group (which was announced on October 11) and an apology to the artist for incurring extreme mental trauma due to being abused and bullied into leaving the group.

Recently, former Day6 member eaJ lent his support to the ex-RIIZE member's cause and advocated that the people who sent death wreaths should be tried for attempted murder. Various worldwide K-pop product suppliers have also halted their distribution of RIIZE's album and merch, joining fan protests.