RIIZE member Seunghan faced cyberbullying after private life details were leaked on social media. The controversy led to fan protests demanding his departure from RIIZE, with harsh actions like sending funeral wreaths to SM Entertainment. Despite plans for his return, Seunghan ultimately left the group, exposing divisions between Korean and international fans.
Incident and Response: Seunghan’s Private Life Leaks
On August 28, 2023, details of Seunghan’s private life were leaked twice on social media platform X. The incident involved photos showing him with a woman, with posts falsely claiming she was a minor. Despite the woman not being underage, rumors spread quickly online. As a result, Seunghan temporarily paused his activities with RIIZE for about 10 months. SM Entertainment announced on October 11, 2024, that he would return to RIIZE. However, on October 13, two days later, Seunghan officially left the group through a statement and a handwritten letter.
Photos and Social Media: Cyberbullying Against Seunghan of RIIZE
On August 28, 2023, posts appeared on X showing Seunghan with a woman and suggesting inappropriate behavior, along with the caption, “RIIZE Seunghan with a minor girlfriend.” Although it was later confirmed that the woman was not underage, rumors quickly spread across online platforms. A netizen who had reposted the photos issued an apology, clarifying that the woman was not a minor. The account was deactivated afterward. Despite this, the damage had been done, and Seunghan faced increased criticism.
November Video Leak: Seunghan Faces New Cyberbullying in RIIZE
On November 17, 2023, another incident occurred involving Seunghan’s private Instagram Live video. The video, filmed during his pre-debut days in SMROOKIES, showed him interacting with TXT member Soobin. During the broadcast, Seunghan made comments about Soobin’s abilities and mentioned a third person, leading to further controversy. Someone recorded and edited the video, then leaked it on X. This caused another wave of criticism against Seunghan, marking his second time under public scrutiny within three months. SM Entertainment released a statement on November 22, explaining that Seunghan felt mentally burdened and, after deep reflection, decided to temporarily halt his activities with RIIZE.
Fan Protests Over Seunghan’s Return to RIIZE
On October 11, 2024, SM Entertainment’s Wizard Production announced Seunghan’s return to RIIZE in November. The news led to an intense backlash from fans, with some staging truck protests and funeral wreath demonstrations outside SM’s headquarters. On October 12, a day after the announcement, fans began sending nearly 1,300 wreaths to the building. The wreaths displayed phrases like “Seunghan Out,” “Who is Seunghan?” “Seunghan, Leave,” and “RIIZE is 6.” Demand for these wreaths was so high that they were sold out. Fans strongly opposed his return, emphasizing their message through these protests.
Cyberbullying and Criticism: RIIZE Fans’ Reaction on theqoo
The online protests, particularly the use of funeral wreaths, highlighted a disturbing aspect of cyberbullying. Sending such wreaths to a living person is an extreme act, and it drew criticism from many, including international fans. They condemned the harsh treatment Seunghan received. They mainly voiced their anger through X, accusing SM Entertainment and Korean fans of cyberbullying. The situation gained attention on the Korean community theqoo, where many members did not acknowledge their actions as wrong. Instead, they dismissed international fans, even comparing them to pests like cockroaches. This dismissive and mocking attitude showed a lack of reflection. The community continued to maintain that time would resolve the controversy, displaying an irresponsible mindset.
Division Between Fans: RIIZE, Seunghan, and the Cyberbullying Debate
Korean fans’ reaction to the international criticism reflected deeper issues. Some Korean fans labeled the backlash from international fans as racism, rejecting any external opinions. However, there is no justification for cyberbullying someone who did not commit any crime. The claim that criticizing cyberbullying amounts to cultural insensitivity has no basis. Sadly, the indifferent and disrespectful behavior of Korean fans shows no signs of improvement. This incident has exposed a significant problem within fan culture and how it can lead to the unjustified alienation of an artist.
Here’s a link to theqoo.
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Boycott rizze and sm