Global fans were devastated by the news that Hong Seunghan (홍승한) had withdrawn from RIIZE following a series of controversies. The idol had been on a lengthy hiatus after photos and videos from his past leaked and circulated online. It was reported that the other members had done everything they could to support their friend in rejoining group activities, but sadly, their efforts were in vain as the response to his return was not well received by Korean fans.
Since this tragic announcement, many have expressed concern about how the now six-member boy band is coping with the situation. RIIZE recently made their first public appearance following Seunghan’s departure, and it appears they are not faring well.
RIIZE is currently scheduled to perform in Japan, and excited fans have gathered at Incheon International Airport to catch a glimpse of the idol group before their departure. Typically, idols are happy to see their admirers at airports, waving to, smiling at and greeting those who have waited to see them. However, this was not one of those occasions. As seen in the videos below, the members did not acknowledge fans or answer reporters’ questions as they usually do.
One supposed eyewitness claimed that RIIZE took longer than usual to exit their car. Once inside the building, they rushed to the departure gates with their heads down, some members fully covering their faces. The footage suggests that the members appeared exhausted, possibly still reeling from what had happened to Seunghan. Fans reacted to the photos and videos of the performers at the airport with many expressing sympathy and anger towards K-nets over the incident.
Meanwhile, Super Junior’s leader, Leeteuk (이특), reportedly seemingly showed his support for Seunghan. The idol was seen retweeting a fan’s post that addressed concerns about SM Entertainment’s lack of protection for their idols, referencing similar incidents involving Henry Lau, Sungmin, and Zhou Mi. The singer’s repost underscores his frustration and disappointment with the label for prioritising crazed fans over their own artists. It is also noteworthy that the company has removed Seunghan from their list of artists but has yet to take similar action regarding former NCT member Taeil, who has been charged with assault.
Watch the videos of RIIZE at the airport below:
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