Seunghan officially leaves RIIZE, Super Junior’s Leeteuk stands by his side

Just two days after RIIZE announced the return of its member Seunghan after a controversial 10-month break, the boy band shocked fans by reversing that decision. Wizard Production, the SM Entertainment management team responsible for RIIZE, revealed on X that they have decided to permanently part ways with Seunghan. Fans are heartbroken and have been protesting to bring Seunghan back, they are also criticizing the company for not supporting their artist during this challenging time. Amid the turmoil, Super Junior leader Leeteuk appears to have taken a stand, as fans noticed he reshared a supporter’s post against Seunghan’s abrupt departure from RIIZE.

In the post, the fan wrote, “What happened to Riize’s Seunghan and the group as a whole is heartbreaking. It’s extremely unfortunate how SM and even artists in general always prioritize the wishes of Korean fans, which is actually just a reminder that nothing changes. The artists’ wishes don’t matter, the international fans’ wishes don’t matter, there is only ONE thing that matters to kpop companies and that is Knetz’s opinion.”

Despite the outcry over his departure from RIIZE, Seunghan shared a handwritten farewell letter to his fans on Wavese. The singer wrote: “I know that many people are seriously considering my return to my activities, I am also aware of the seriousness of this situation now. I’ve been thinking about myself a lot so far. I’m not causing much harm to the members and the company. I don’t know if it’s okay for me to be with a Riize team that should be loved. When I thought about it, only worry and sensitivity came to mind. So I think leaving the team is the way forward for everyone. I don’t want to cause more confusion and suffering to fans, and I don’t want to cause more harm to members.”

Seunghan added that he doesn’t want to harm the company or the group any further. He thanked the company and his colleagues for giving him another chance. He also apologized and showed gratitude to his supporters. Seunghan admitted that his actions caused tension between RIIZE and their fan base, known as Briize, which he deeply regrets. He highlighted that many supported RIIZE because of him and it pains him to see such conflict. Seunghan sincerely hopes that RIIZE will continue to grow and gain more support in the future and plans to cheer them on from the sidelines.

Seunghan first attracted attention in August 2023 when his private photos and videos from before joining the boy band surfaced online. The leaked content showed him kissing an unknown woman in bed and smoking a cigarette. This quickly went viral in South Korea, leading to Seunghan’s hiatus from RIIZE.