Seunghan Officially Leaves RIIZE, Super Junior’s Leeteuk Takes His Side

Just two days after RIIZE announced the return of their member, Seunghan, following a controversial 10-month break, the boy band shocked fans by reversing that decision. Wizard Production, the management team under SM Entertainment responsible for RIIZE, revealed on X that they decided to permanently part ways with Seunghan. Fans are heartbroken and have been protesting to bring Seunghan back, they’re also criticising 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 that he reshared a post from a supporter against Seunghan’s abrupt exit 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 Korean fans’ wishes, which is actually just a reminder that nothing changes. Artists’ wishes don’t matter, international fans’ wishes don’t matter, there’s only ONE thing that matters to kpop companies and it’s knetz opinion.”

Despite the protest against his departure from RIIZE, Seunghan shared a handwritten goodbye letter for his fans on Waverse. The singer wrote, “I know that many people are seriously thinking about my return to my activities, I am also aware of the seriousness of this situation now. I’ve been thinking too much about myself so far. I’m not causing too much damage to the members and the company. I don’t know if it’s really okay for me to be with a team Riize who should be loved. When I thought about it, only worry and sorry sensibility came to mind. So I think that leaving the team is the way for everyone. I don’t want to cause any more confusion and hurt to the fans, and I don’t want to cause any more damage to the members.”

Seunghan added that he doesn’t want to hurt the company or the group any further. He thanked both the company and his fellow members for giving him another chance. He also apologised and showed appreciation to his supporters. Seunghan admitted that his actions have caused tension between RIIZE and their fanbase, 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 he plans to cheer for them from the sidelines.

Seunghan first attracted attention in August 2023 when his private photos and videos, before he joined the boy band, surfaced online. The leaked content featured 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.