RIIZE’s Seunghan Rejoins Group After Hiatus

RIIZE’s Seunghan is set to resume group activities after almost a year-long hiatus.

Photo: Seunghan

On October 11, SM Entertainment officially announced that Seunghan will be participating in RIIZE’s scheduled activities in November.

“Seunghan acknowledges that his past actions were wrong, and he has currently halted activities for nearly a year while deeply reflecting [on his actions] and feeling apologetic to the other members and his fans,” SM Entertainment said, according to a translation from South Korean digital news website Soompi. “We also recognized that Seunghan’s past actions were not appropriate as an artist, which is why it took us a long time to debate the timing of his return to activities.”

The agency also apologized for “causing confusion and difficulty” for fans since there was no clear and definite announcement regarding Seunghan’s activities following his abrupt hiatus.

“Because there was no announcement regarding Seunghan’s activities, the fans went beyond curiosity to become worried and concerned, and we empathize with those feelings,” it wrote.

Finally, the agency asked for fans’ warm support towards Seunghan and RIIZE moving forward: “We ask that you trust our decision so that we can properly show the fans a RIIZE consisting of seven members.”

The 21-year-old K-pop idol posted a handwritten letter on Weverse, apologizing to all the members and fans for his “immature actions.”

“I am truly sorry to the fans who supported us from the very beginning, which was such a crucial time, and to those who were hurt by my immature actions. I also feel sorry to the members, with whom I should have been working hard to move forward together, which led to my sudden suspension of activities,” Seunghan wrote.

“I will strive to be a good member who takes responsibility and does not tarnish the achievements the members have built up. I want to become a necessary presence to the team RIIZE,” he added, promising to work harder for his group and his fans.

Seunghan went on an indefinite hiatus in November 2023 after his private pre-debut details circulated on social media, including photographs of him kissing and smoking.

RIIZE is a K-pop boy group comprised of seven members: Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee, and Anton. Excluding Seunghan, the K-pop boy group successful held their first fancon in the Philippines last July.

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