RIIZE rightfully has been acknowledged as a possible next-generation chief in Okay-pop‘s ongoing worldwide crossover, largely due to its refreshing embrace of approachability. However the best way its label, Okay-pop large SM Leisure, has dealt with an issue involving one of many group’s unique members has offered a high-stakes window into the continued rigidity between South Korean artists balancing the calls for of worldwide careers with the nation’s extra conventional, accepted social norms.
When SM launched RIIZE’s lineup in July 2023 by way of 27 informal Instagram photographs that wouldn’t look misplaced on any influencer’s web page, it set a bar for the way its seven members – Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton – meant to attach with followers on-line in a relatable means; as Eunseok defined it throughout RIIZE’s interview in Los Angeles for Billboard’s current digital cowl story, the group wished to share “a variety of photos of our day by day life and intimate [moments] on social media.”
However solely six members of RIIZE participated within the cowl. Interviews for the piece occurred nearly precisely six months after SM introduced that Seunghan would “halt actions” with RIIZE following an August 2023 leak of personal, pre-RIIZE photographs and movies that confirmed him kissing an unidentified lady in a mattress and smoking a cigarette. Although tame by Western requirements, the content material went viral in South Korea, a rustic which has undergone fast modernization however stays socially conservative — values that reach to the parasocial relationships followers have with South Korean music stars. Some followers condemned Seunghan’s actions – which they deemed inappropriate for a Okay-pop idol – and protested for his removing even earlier than the extremely anticipated boy band’s debut.
Forward of releasing RIIZE’s critically acclaimed single “Get a Guitar” on the high of September, Seunghan, then 19, took to the group’s Instagram account on Aug. 30 to “sincerely apologize to the followers who’re supporting RIIZE,” saying that he “precipitated injury to our staff by private issues…all out of my carelessness.” Including that he hadn’t addressed the scenario sooner out of worry and nervousness, Seunghan stated he “mirrored rather a lot” and vowed to “put the staff first” by being extra cautious each on and off the stage.
However throughout the influential Korean web sites and boards devoted to discussing – and, as a rule, tearing down – Okay-pop celebrities, criticisms of Seunghan continued even after “Get a Guitar” and October’s follow-up “Discuss Saxy” started to earn them accolades.
On Nov. 22, 2023, SM Leisure uploaded a discover that Seunghan was “feeling severely apologetic and is reflecting on himself for inflicting disappointment and commotion to not solely the staff and members but in addition to followers as a consequence of points concerning his private life which might be leaked and circulated.”
Whereas SM did observe the content material leaks had been maliciously edited — calling it “extreme defamation” and promising authorized motion — the label nonetheless settled on “the indefinite suspension of [Seunghan’s] actions.” In response to its assertion on the time, Seunghan additionally “relayed his intention to halt actions”; the label “judged that it’s too troublesome for him to proceed actions by this case.” On the identical day, by RIIZE’s Weverse account, Seunghan shared in a handwritten letter that he was “deeply reflecting” on his “careless actions from the previous” and apologized to the group’s followers (generally known as BRIIZE), RIIZE members and label employees.
RIIZE’s members didn’t point out Seunghan when talking with Billboard or at their live performance in Los Angeles, and a non-SM consultant made a number of requests that Billboard not point out Seunghan within the interview for the digital cowl story. SM Leisure didn’t reply to questions on Seunghan’s standing with the band, and the corporate has not offered an replace in regards to the authorized actions it’s taking over Seunghan’s behalf. SM’s firm web site nonetheless lists Seunghan as an artist and a member of RIIZE. Upon the publication of Billboard’s digital cowl about RIIZE, widespread English-language web sites protecting Korean leisure reported on Seunghan’s point out within the story. Koreaboo famous that it “precisely talked about Seunghan as a present member, one thing some media sources haven’t achieved since his indefinite hiatus started,” which TheUBJ.com echoed, saying Seunghan is “usually omitted by different media.” The websites trace at how, in South Korea, Okay-pop media protection tends to be closely screened by administration groups, requiring questions earlier than interviews and textual content approval earlier than publication. (Billboard‘s editorial coverage doesn’t enable topics to assessment questions or train editorial enter.)
Now, as they try to achieve RIIZE’s burgeoning worldwide fanbase, the assorted events concerned within the group — SM Leisure, SM’s new majority shareholder Kakao and RIIZE’s U.S. label associate RCA Information — are dealing with a distinct group of followers: these demanding a proof for Seunghan’s scenario and an replace on his future with RIIZE.
At press time, almost 19,000 had signed a petition titled “Upholding Artists’ Dignity: A Name to SM Leisure” calling for authorized motion concerning the “privateness breach” in addition to an “rapid finish to Seunghan’s ‘indefinite hiatus.’” Throughout RIIZE’s Could 20 fan-concert at L.A.’s Peacock Theater, a small however mighty crew started to chant “RIIZE is seven” and “Seunghan” earlier than the band returned for its encore; comparable chants erupted throughout RIIZE’s fan-concert days earlier in Mexico Metropolis. In late Could, a behind-the-scenes video from an interview with RIIZE on the Tecate Emblema competition went viral, displaying a member of the group’s staff requesting {that a} host modify a query that talked about “six within the group.” Some followers are even calling for a boycott of RIIZE’s music till a clarification.
Throughout its three many years as a pacesetter in Okay-pop, SM Leisure has acquired loads of expertise negotiating such conditions. At two completely different instances in his profession, Tremendous Junior’s Kangin was charged with DUIs. He initially took a two-and-a-half-year break from the boy band and went on one other hiatus earlier than in the end withdrawing from Tremendous Junior after his second offense; he stays signed to SM in the present day as a solo act and actor.
Extra not too long ago, in 2018, SM launched Lucas as a member of NCT by the use of the boy band’s China-based splinter unit WayV; Lucas was additionally part of SM supergroup SuperM. In August 2021, a number of girls claiming to have had relationships with the star alleged he had cheated on them and/or subjected them to alleged “gaslighting.” Lucas rapidly stepped out of the general public eye earlier than formally leaving NCT and WayV in 2023 — though he remained signed to SM and made his solo debut with the EP Renegade in April.
On the opposite aspect of the spectrum, SM additionally stood by Chen of EXO when “scores of protesters” took to the streets to demand he go away the group after the singer introduced in January 2020 his plans to marry his girlfriend in addition to the fiancée’s being pregnant.
Like Lucas, artists who exit teams and their labels after conduct deemed unsavory by Okay-pop requirements do usually efficiently return as soloists, although they not often obtain the identical business success as their prior teams. Whereas no official information has been shared but concerning Seunghan’s future, rumors of the 20-year-old attending a Korean “cram college,” presumably in preparation for school exams, have surfaced. Whereas some Okay-pop stars pursue each music and their research (all seven members of BTS have college levels), some marvel if this hints at his exit from leisure altogether.
For now — whilst Seunghan’s future with RIIZE hangs within the steadiness and followers protest his minimally-explained absence — RIIZE nonetheless appears to nonetheless be residing as much as its identify. The group’s newest single, “Growth Growth Bass,” launched on June 17, has already racked greater than 12 million views for its official music video, and RIIZING – The first Mini Album (launched June 18) has already bought multiple million bodily copies globally, in response to South Korea’s real-time album gross sales web site Hanteo Chart. Make of it what you’ll: on album monitor “Discuss Saxy,” Seunghan’s vocals are nonetheless there.