Seunghan is stepping into the spotlight solo, following some rocky situations in his career. After the controversial exit from RIIZE, SM Entertainment announced on November 15 that the former idol group member is gearing up for his debut as a solo act under the company. Along with the news, SM launched Seunghan’s official solo accounts under “seunghan.smofficial,” adding some never-before-seen photos of the star.
Official statement of SM Ent's Wizard Production regarding Seunghan's departure from RIIZE:
“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… pic.twitter.com/6cgfhtaG9J
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 13, 2024
This debut marks a new chapter for Seunghan, who faced backlash earlier due to leaked pre-debut photos that sparked heated debates online. In the footage, the 21-year-old could be seen smoking and kissing his ex-girlfriend, provoking controversy. After a period of reflection and an attempted return to RIIZE, the pressure from protests and anti-fans caused his exit from the group. Later on, SM Entertainment promised to keep their support, offering Seunghan fans a new path for his career as a soloist.
SM Entertainment announces that Seunghan is preparing to make his solo debut in the second half of 2025. pic.twitter.com/NW7ayOKz1U
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 15, 2024
The way SM Entertainment handled Seunghan’s controversy has been a subject of criticism online, especially among international RIIZE fans. While several South Korean group stans believed Seunghan’s photos negatively impacted the group, Western RIIZE followers disagreed with the protests and the severe response the 21-year-old got from his pre-debut photos.
