'RIIZE Is 7' trends online: K-Pop fandoms unite to bring back Seunghan; want 'OT6 fans' to leave idol alone

Just days ago (October 11, 2024), it was announced that Seunghan would return to RIIZE after nearly a year-long hiatus. However, instead of cheers, the immediate aftermath of the announcement saw many Korean fans protesting his return, including planned message trucks and the delivery of numerous funeral wreaths to SM Entertainment.

ALSO READ | Seunghan leaves RIIZE: Funeral wreaths sent for his departure spark controversy among International and Korean fans

In response to the backlash, Seunghan made a decision, and on October 13, it was announced that he would depart from the group. The statement indicated that the singer made this choice, and he shared a letter shortly afterwards. Korean netizens reacted to the news with many congratulating the K-pop group on Seunghan's withdrawal following the protests.

However, international fans were unhappy and began protesting, trending hashtags like "RIIZE Is 7," "BRING BACK SEUNGHAN," "JUSTICE FOR SEUNGHAN," and "SM Supports Bullying." Not only fans of RIIZE, known as BRIIZE but also various fandoms showed support for the idol, with many stating that fans need to start treating idols like humans who can make mistakes rather than canceling them for every small incident.

Seunghan outside SM Entertainment building:

The K-pop agency was visited by many fans seeking to see the wreaths and trucks parked there. However, one such visitor shared an account of allegedly seeing Seunghan outside the building. In a post shared on a Chinese social media site, a netizen claimed that while at SM Entertainment, they saw an individual outside whom they believed to be Seunghan. 

They described the individual as being dressed like a trainee and looking gloomy while walking among the wreaths. The post included a video of the person believed to be Seunghan walking with their hands on their head.

It will not be to see if SM Entertainment takes action and as they folded under the pressure of Korean fans, will listen to international fans and get Seunghan back.

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