K-pop artist Seunghan is departing from RIIZE.

The news was shared by his agency, Wizard Production (a division of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment), with the decision coming just two days after it was announced that he would rejoin the group. In their official statement, Wizard Production announced that the 21-year-old idol had decided to make the personal choice to leave the group. After announcing Seunghan’s return, the agency mentions that they “ruminated carefully” on the responses sent in by fans — before realizing that their decision had caused hurt and confusion to the BRIIZE fandom.

Check out the full translated statement from Wizard Production below:

“First, we sincerely apologize to all the BRIIZE fans for the distress and confusion caused by the announcement of Seunghan’s return on the 11th. We deeply regret that we prioritized the production’s stance over the growth that the six members of RIIZE have worked so hard to achieve, the invaluable support from Breeze that has been their greatest source of strength, and the precious time shared between RIIZE and Breeze fans. We initially made the decision with the hope that if Seunghan reflected on his past mistakes, returned to the group, and contributed to RIIZE’s growth as a team once again, it could bring even greater happiness to both the artist and the fans.

However, upon carefully reviewing each of the opinions and reactions sent by the fans after the announcement, we realized that our decision only led to further confusion and hurt for all of you. At the same time, Seunghan expressed his intention to leave the team for the sake of his fellow members and the fans. Respecting his decision, we inform you that Seunghan will not be rejoining RIIZE but will instead be departing from the group. We will support Seunghan as he continues to pursue his talents and dreams in the future.

Above all, we deeply apologize for the difficulties and confusion caused to the six members of RIIZE, who have consistently given their best efforts for the fans since their debut, and who, more than anyone else, have constantly reflected and worked hard to bring RIIZE to where it is today. We will continue to support the members of RIIZE in every aspect, so they can grow even further. Wizard Production promises to act with greater caution in all matters moving forward, ensuring that the time RIIZE and BRIIZE share together remains long-lasting and full of happiness. ”

Posting to WeVerse, Seunghan also penned a handwritten letter about his departure from RIIZE. Check it out below:

“Hello. This is Seunghan. I know that many people are seriously considering my return to activities, and I also recognize the seriousness of this situation. I’ve been thinking deeply about whether I’ve been thinking too much about myself so far, whether I’ve been causing too much harm to the members and the company, and whether it’s really okay for me to be a part of a team called RIIZE that should be loved. Whenever I reflect on it, all I feel is worry and regret.

For this reason, I believe stepping away from the team is the best decision for everyone. I don’t want to bring any more confusion or pain to the fans, nor do I wish to cause further difficulty for the other members. And I don’t want to cause any more damage to the company. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the company and the members who put in so much effort to give me another opportunity. I also sincerely apologize and thank everyone who has supported me up until now, even though I’m lacking.”

Seunghan’s departure from the group was immediately met with saddened reactions worldwide, with messages of support for the young K-pop figure. The hashtags ‘RIIZE IS 7’ and ‘WE WANT SEUNGHAN BACK’ have been trending on the social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok — with close to 2 million posts shared about RIIZE on X alone. Other trending hashtags include ‘SM Supports Bullying’, which has amounted to over 1.31 million posts and counting on X.

Prior to his official departure, Seunghan has been on an indefinite hiatus from the group, which came two months after his debut with the rest of the group. His break was prompted by the leak of personal photos and videos that showed him smoking and kissing an unidentified woman, all of which were taken before he became an idol. This incident sparked backlash from some conservative fans and KNetizens in South Korea.

RIIZE, which has gained popularity since debuting in September 2023, will continue as a six-piece group composed of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton.

Listen to RIIZE’s RIIZING – The 1st Mini Album below: