K-pop fandoms are notorious for their passion, but sometimes that devotion can take a dark turn.
The recent controversy surrounding Seunghan, a former member of the boyband RIIZE, SM Entertainment’s fresh boy group, would be a case in point.
Outside the SM Entertainment’s offices in Seoul a few days ago, an eerie display of funeral wreaths lined up outside had sparked headlines.
But these were no ordinary funeral wreaths. Instead they were all part of a fan protest.
Let’s break down the whirlwind of events in the leadup to this hullabaloo. As one of the key members of RIIZE, Seunghan, whose full name is Hong Seung-han, 21, quickly gained a following for his talent and boyish charm.
But his image took a dramatic hit when private photos surfaced, allegedly showing the star with a girlfriend—an unspoken taboo for idols who are expected to maintain a "single and available" persona.
Even worse, other photos emerged of him smoking in public, further tarnishing his squeaky-clean image.
In the high-stakes world of K-pop, where idols are held to impossibly high standards of behaviour, the fallout was inevitable.
Fans, feeling betrayed by Seunghan’s actions, unleashed a torrent of outrage online.
Following this incident, Seunghan was suspended from the group and took an indefinite hiatus which began in Aug 2023.
On Oct 11, 2024, the agency floated the possibility of his return. This move didn’t sit well with a large faction of RIIZE’s fanbase, which led to the protest and funeral wreaths.
The protest funeral wreaths were somewhat a morbid gesture that signaled their disapproval.
Eventually on Oct 13, Seunghan announced his decision to exit the group.
Was Seunghan Bullied Into Quitting?
Many believe the pressure from these fans was the final nail in the coffin for Seunghan's career with RIIZE.
Although SM Entertainment framed the exit as a mutual decision, some view that the aggressive tactics used by some fans forced his departure.
The dark side of stan culture reared its head in this case, with the most vocal and dedicated factions essentially dictating the trajectory of Seunghan’s career.
The question remains—was this a reasonable reaction to a young idol's mistakes, or was it bullying? As fans on social media and news outlets weigh in, the discourse is divided. While some feel his actions were inappropriate, others argue that the punishment far outweighed the crime.
Seunghan’s story is not unique. We’ve seen other idols come under fire for past behaviour, only to either rebound or bow out of the industry entirely.
But the level of intensity surrounding this scandal is a reminder that in the cutthroat world of K-pop, perfection is expected, and the consequences of falling short can be brutal.
With Seunghan now out of the picture, the future of RIIZE is unclear. Will this controversy strengthen the group’s resolve, or will the division within the fandom signal deeper issues?