International fans of RIIZE slam SM Entertainment for allowing Seunghan to be bullied; call for boycott

RIIZE one of the upcoming boybands of K-Pop established a fan base abroad quite early. But more than the music and songs, people have come out in support seeing the appalling treatment meted out to Hong Seunghan by vile Korean fans after his return. Netizens who follow K-Pop will know that a huge controversy erupted after some pics surfaced of RIIZE member Hong Seunghan smoking, kissing and cuddling a woman apparently his girlfriend during his trainee days. Seunghan who is just 21 was removed from the group to soothe down the public backlash. As we know, idols are not supposed to date or indulge in any kind of behavior which is borderline scandalous. Korean fans expect idols to be ‘pure’ as it described in social media. 

As the news of Hong Seunghan’s return surfaced, all hell broke loose. He faced immense bullying on social media. Worse, fans sent funeral wreaths outside the office of SM Entertainment with messages that wished him death. This gesture has disgusted the international K-Pop community. The fact that SM Entertainment bowed down to such kind of behavior is also being termed as unacceptable. They have asked the company to bring back Seunghan or just disband the group. 

This is not all. There is also anger that Moon Tae-il was allowed to promote with his group NCT when he was under investigation for quasi-rape of a foreign woman. It seems he and his acquaintances forcibly sexually assaulted her with weapons in their hand. The case was lodged with the cops in June 2024. SM Entertainment did not take any prompt action nor is there public outrage on the same. 

Global fans have asked big K-Pop stores the world over not to sell or store any albums of RIIZE till they decide to bring back Seunghan. Visuals of him walking out of the SM Entertainment office looking at the funeral wreaths have shocked music lovers. Even those who do not follow K-Pop have commented on this kind of evil behavior.