On October 12, SM Entertainment announced that after multiple discussions with the members and staff regarding the group’s future activities, it has been decided that Seunghan will return to RIIZE. Seunghan is expected to gradually participate in some of the group’s schedules starting in November.
However, this decision has caused a divide between Korean and international fans. While Korean fans have called for his removal from the group, even sending 1,000 funeral wreaths to SM’s gate in protest of the controversial idol’s return, international fans have shown support for him by sending support trucks.
In an effort to reassure fans, member Wonbin shared a message to fans on Weverse.
Below is the full text from Wonbin’s Weverse post:
“BRIIZE! I’m not sure where to start, but I’ll try to gather the courage to express what I want to say.
Even as I write this, I’m being very careful and worried about what BRIIZE will think when this post goes up. However, I was concerned that without any response or comment from us, it might cause you more confusion and difficulty, so I decided to write this to clarify the conversations we’ve had as members.
I know BRIIZE has been thinking a lot about whether Seunghan would return and why we (or he) didn’t provide a clear answer sooner. We’ve been discussing it with Seunghan and the company for quite some time.
I hope you know that all the members have carefully considered this issue together many times. I always want to make all BRIIZE happy, and I’m sorry I couldn’t do that…
This post may not completely ease all of BRIIZE’s worries, but I hope it brings some comfort to your confused hearts.
There is no RIIZE without BRIIZE. I always say this, and I want to create beautiful memories with BRIIZE and meet you for a long time to come.
So, I believe it would be a great help if you continue to watch over us with the same warmth and support you’ve shown so far. I promise to keep working hard so that RIIZE can continue to be a source of pride for BRIIZE.”
Previously, Seunghan faced controversy after an anonymous account posted a video of him smoking, threatening to reveal more if SM Entertainment didn’t respond within a week. It was also claimed that his ex-girlfriend, a former SM trainee, had been dismissed.