On October 13, it was announced that Seunghan would officially withdraw from RIIZE, despite previous statements indicating his return to the group’s activities.
This sudden turn of events has triggered a strong reaction from fans, with many rallying behind Seunghan in a boycott against the group and its management, SM Entertainment.
The boycott is aimed at expressing dissatisfaction with the decision to remove Seunghan and advocating for his reinstatement.
The boycott consists of several coordinated efforts. Fans have started to disengage from all content related to RIIZE, including unfollowing the group on social media and refusing to purchase products or support brands the group endorses.
One of the most impactful aspects of the boycott is the widespread cancellation of pre-orders for RIIZE’s merchandise.
This financial backlash has caught the attention of K-pop retailers, some of whom have publicly announced that they will no longer restock RIIZE merchandise once their current stock runs out.
Popular North American retailers such as SubK Shop, EvePink, and LightUpK have expressed their support for the boycott, with several European and Asian shops following suit.
The boycott has quickly gained traction, with fans from other K-pop fandoms and even outside the K-pop community joining in to show their support for Seunghan.
On October 18, the protest reached new heights as a large number of Seunghan supporters gathered in front of SM Entertainment’s building in Seoul, braving heavy rain to demand Seunghan’s reinstatement.
Organized in response to what fans describe as a lack of transparency and the mishandling of Seunghan’s withdrawal, the face-to-face protest saw the presence of numerous protest trucks, and fans holding placards with messages such as “Disclose the withdrawal process transparently” and “SM, you are failing your consumers.”
Fans argue that Seunghan has been treated unfairly, calling him a “victim of extreme privacy control,” which reflects broader concerns about how K-pop idols are often treated as commodities rather than individuals with a right to privacy.
Many supporters believe that the protests against Seunghan joining RIIZE were rooted in groundless bullying, unprecedented in K-pop history.
Fans have demanded an official apology from SM Entertainment and a clear explanation of Seunghan‘s withdrawal process.
The protest has garnered significant attention, with truck demonstrations and social media campaigns continuing globally.
Despite the rainy conditions, fans were undeterred in their efforts to bring awareness to Seunghan’s situation, further amplifying their calls for justice.
While SM Entertainment has announced legal action to protect Seunghan’s rights, it remains to be seen whether they will reconsider their decision regarding his departure from RIIZE.
With both domestic and international fans expressing their outrage, the boycott and protests show no signs of slowing down.
For now, fans are determined to continue their efforts until they feel their voices have been heard and Seunghan receives the fair treatment they believe he deserves.
