“WE WANT HIM WITH RIIZE” — Fans outraged over SM Entertainment’s announcement of Seunghan’s solo debut following his controversial exit

On November 15, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that former RIIZE member Seunghan is set to debut as a solo artist. The company took to X and said that the 22-year-old idol would debut in the "second half of 2025."

"We would like to share an announcement regarding our artist, Seunghan. Seunghan is currently preparing to debut as a solo artist in the second half of 2025, and is receiving full support and guidance across several aspects considered essential for a solo debut including systemized training, producing, management, and more."

SM Entertainment further added that updates regarding the idol would be posted on his new official social media account (@seunghan.smofficial).

"Moving forth, updates on Seunghan will be shared via his official social accounts which launched today (15th, KST). Seunghan is determined to showcase a new side of himself as he embarks on his journey as a solo artist and carries out his talents and dreams. We kindly ask for your warm support and attention as he begins this new chapter."

For the unversed, the idol debuted as one of the seven members of the rookie boy group RIIZE in September 2023. However, he was embroiled in a dating and cigarette-smoking controversy, after pictures and videos of his time as a trainee went viral online. Subsequently, he went into a hiatus in November 2023 while RIIZE was promoted to a six-member group.

In October 2024, SM Entertainment announced that he would resume activities as a member of RIIZE. However, just 24 hours later, on October 13, 2024, the label announced that Seunghan had been permanently removed from the group. Since then, fans have been boycotting the K-pop group's releases, demanding Seunghan's return as its original member.

Hence, fans were seemingly furious with SM Entertainment after they decided to debut him as a solo artist and not as a member of the band. One fan wrote on X:

"WE WANT HIM WITH RIIZE."

Fans further mentioned that SM Entertainment saw the boycott and tried to decrease the damage by debuting Seunghan as a solo artist.

"So sm saw everyone boycotting riize, their rep went down, lost followers, etc and thought “oh well just debut him as a soloist” ??? THEY KICKED HIM OUT OF THE GRP BC A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABT IT BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE ASKING FOR HIM BACK DOESNT DO ANYTHING??" one fan wrote.

"I swear sm is the worst when it comes to managing their artists," another fan said.

"I am very happy seunghan is still continuing his career as an idol but… if sm couldn’t protect him in a group, how much better are they gonna protect him as a solo artist…?" one other fan added.

Others stressed that they want him as part of the original RIIZE lineup.

"Sm saw the boycott and thinking giving him a solo debut would make us stop boycott, well no! we want him back in riize," one fan said.

"Exactly how does this fix the situation? wouldn’t this just make riize look bad overall because their reputation (and success) will always be attributed to them allowing a member to be thrown to the wolves? (a choice the members didn’t ask for btw). just put him back in riize," another fan wrote.

"They really just slapped a bandaid on the situation and thought we would forget how they didn't protect seunghan at all," one other fan commented.

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Over 120 global K-pop retailers join the worldwide boycott movement against RIIZE and SM Entertainment to bring back Seunghan

On October 16, 2024, over 120 global K-pop stores like LightUpK, Hey!Hallyu, Copenhagen Kpop, SarangHello, Sarah & Tom, Pink Box, Kpop Nation, Hallyu Hamke, and more joined the global boycott and announced that they would not supply RIIZE's products amidst Seunghan's exit.

They also added that they will not support the band's future activities if Seunghan isn't reinstated as a member.

SubKShop, a major US retail player, released a statement saying they will re-evaluate "future sales" of RIIZE's albums and products based on Seunghan's situation.

"In light of recent events, we have decided to temporarily halt the importing of RIIZE products out of respect for our customers, fans, and the artist. Existing orders will still be fulfilled, pre-purchased inventory will remain, and future sales will be reevaluated as the situation evolves."

Here is the complete list of the major international retailers from the K-pop sales business who have joined the boycott:

• Boutique Musica, France
• Boutique TAI YOU, France
• Kpop Kastle, Florida
• SubK Shop
• Oppang K-pop Store, North Carolina
• KPOPNARA, New York City
• KPOPNARA, Chicago
• Nolae, Germany
• SeoulStation, Germany
• Kpopowo, Poland
• Sklep Kpopowy, Poland
• KpopSzop, Poland
• EVE PINK, Texas
• Yume Konbini, Italy
• Stardust K-pop Shop, Italy
• House of K-pop, Singapore
• Kpop Bazaar, Australia
• Kboo Store, Spain
• LightUpK, Canada
• Hey!Hallyu, Netherlands
• Copenhagen Kpop, Denmark
• SarangHello, San Francisco
• Sarah & Tom, Canada
• Pink Box, Texas
• Kpop Nation, USA
• Hallyu Hamkke
• Onnigom, Finland
• Eri Shoppe, the Philippines
• KorK, Missouri
• Kaido Italia K-pop Shop, Italy
• kpop1004, Canada, and the USA
• KSPACE, Czechia
• 12KST Shop, California
• KPOP.RS, Serbia
• iPurple, Europe
• Kpopdistrict, UK
• K Stars, UK
• Kpop.omo
• Kpop Gateway, Virginia
• Choice Music, Los Angeles
• I Heart Kpop, Australia (Brisbane)
• Cheng Gong, Italy
• Nat's Idea Kpop Shop, Poland
• VT Carrollton, Texas
• Kpop Republic, California
• Kpop Pink Store, California
• CNA K-Pop, the Philippines
• KKANG and Kpopstopnz, New Zealand
• Kpop Nara, Woodfield
• Moonlight Mart, Aurora
• Kpop merch by Choc Choc, Chicago
• kpopofchicago, Chicago
• Seoul Stop, the Philippines
• Kpop Kingdom, Virginia
• Kpopzone, Denver
• K-pop utopia, Wisconsin
• Aling Chulien, Philippines
• Soundbloom, Florida
• The Sounds Store, Netherlands
• Sokollab, the United Kingdom
• Kpop Store, Georgia (USA)
• Kloud Kpop, California
• Ploghvey Kpop, Tennessee
• Kpop Time, Australia
• Kpopfriends, Australia
• Daebak, Germany
• The K-Pop Empire, Washington D.C.
• Oh Seoul Happy, North Carolina
• K Town, Canada
• Wondernara
• Chingu Dachi, Philippines
• Kpop n More, Tennessee
• n.cat, Philippines
• Yumiko, Poland
• Poppe Shop, the Philippines
• Kandy Pop, California
• Jamais Vu Kpop Shop, UK
• BD Kpop Corner, Bangladesh
• Aegyo Kpop Store, Germany
• The Happy Store, the Philippines
• U Desser Eats, San Diego
• Cokodive
• Kpop Fanstore, Indonesia
• Tienda Humo, Chile
• Kpoppin USA, Florida
• Tokki-Shop, Germany
• Daestore, France
• DICO KPOP STORE, Chile
• Uri Shop, Chile
• Krmerch, Singapore
• Kingdom of Kpop and More, North Carolina
• Kpop SA, Texas
• Neo Tokyo, Germany
• Akira, Canada
• Momo Store, Spain
• The Korner, Germany
• Impact Store, Spain
• Pig Rabbit Shop, Spain
• iMusic Shop, Denmark
• Super Dragon Toys, Belgium
• Soojib, UK
• K-moon, Italy
• Chorusaruma, Saudi Arabia
• Cookie Kshop, India
• Saranpop Kpop Store, Cambodia
• Artbox, Canada
• Kpopalbum.khstore, Cambodia
• All Korea, Qatar
• Kyyo and Lilakshop, UK
• Chuchucherry, UK
• Kaepjjang Shop, France
• Melashy World, Puerto Rico
• Shopluxc, Mexico
• Dongsong Shop, Mexico
• idollmusic, South Carolina
• Variaworld, Netherlands
• Kplace USA, California
• Bak Bak K-store, Europe
• Peach Blossom Shop, Ukraine
• Froggoshop, Ukraine
• Kstory Espana, Spain

Seems like the boycott is working byu/eyksm inkpop_uncensored

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RIIZE currently has six members—Anton, Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, and Sohee.