In a surprising move, SM Entertainment has revealed that former RIIZE member Seunghan will be making his solo debut in the second half of 2025. The company confirmed the news through an official statement posted on the SM Entertainment Global X account, announcing that Seunghan’s solo social media accounts will also launch on September 15.
Seunghan has already started trending on X, but not for the reasons SM Entertainment might have hoped. Many of the comments reflect fans’ desire to see him back with the group rather than embarking on a solo career. “We didn’t want a solo debut; we wanted RIIZE,” one fan wrote, while others echoed similar sentiments, asking for the band to be whole again.
"if Seunghan can debut as a soloist, what is stopping them from putting him in the group?"
sm couldn’t even protect seunghan when he was getting attacked by ot6 briizes quite literally the whole time he was on hiatus AND when he came back, but now they’re debuting him as a soloist … ???? pic.twitter.com/GcgfmQTj7O
— koi (@homotron83) November 15, 2024
Other notable reactions include:
why sm choosing to make his solo comeback instead of choosing the demand of people that wants seunghan back to riize…??? pic.twitter.com/Y1PyiDppqR
— s (@crvngjaee) November 15, 2024
SM are CONFUSED, wdym seunghan solo debut, u didn’t even help him when he was in a group pic.twitter.com/LoV3I2XR8y
— sal 🍒 ˚✧ (@scoupshyundai) November 15, 2024
SM we dont want seunghan as a soloist, we want seunghan back in riize!!! and you will NOT have our support until he is back in riize because RIIZE IS 7 !!! BOYCOTT SM ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/73wQZlmlI4
— dani ⁺¹ ♡ RII7E (@luvseobb) November 15, 2024
I am thankful to see Seunghan after so long BUT I HAVE NOT FORGETTEN THOSE WREATHS.
— zephyrrose (BOYCOTT MODE) (@zephyrrose_p) November 15, 2024
A statement in English, recycled pictures that were obviously from seasons greetings just a few days before Mama?
Don’t make me laugh, we aren’t stopping! @smentertainment
Many fans believe that SM Entertainment is lacking the courage to make the bold decisions that fans are eagerly waiting for. Instead, they seem to be diving deeper into responding to fan emotions, with some speculating that this solo debut announcement is just a tactic to silence critics. Fans feel that SM’s lack of proper promotion for their artists' solo projects further fuels the idea that this statement was made to "shush" criticism, rather than addressing the deeper concerns of their audience. This has led to a sense that SM underestimates fans' intelligence and their ability to see through these attempts to avoid more serious discussions.
this is crazy
— rͬeͤs͛aͣ (@risehsh) November 15, 2024
… all that into just over a month? pic.twitter.com/7DFWBzgiOm
The backlash has even led to calls for a continuation of the boycott that was initiated by international record stores, who previously declared they would not be selling RIIZE merch. With his solo debut still over a year away, it remains to be seen how SM Entertainment will navigate the situation and whether Seunghan will be able to meet the expectations of his fanbase, who seem to have other plans for him.
Stay tuned as we follow this unfolding story and Seunghan's journey into his solo career.