K-Pop Stores Worldwide Join RIIZE Boycott 

It was recently announced that Seunghan would depart from RIIZE. The news shocked many as it was announced that Seunghan would return to schedules two days prior.

As a result, many fans have felt disappointed and angry over the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal.

Seunghan

In the immediate aftermath, fans began planning a boycott of RIIZE. This boycott consists of not engaging in any content RIIZE releases, unfollowing the group on social media, and avoiding purchases from brands the group endorses.

DUE TO THE INJUSTICE OF RIIZE. #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #AlwaysWithSeunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SEUNGHAN #홍승한 @RIIZE_official #BOYCOTTSM @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/Soq5upQqhB

— hana! 𝝑𝝔 | sungholover 🍀 (@heepurinz) October 13, 2024

The boycott has already seen results and other K-Pop fandoms, and even some outside of K-Pop, have shown support for Seunghan.

RIIZE Lose A Significant Amount Of Followers As K-Pop Fandoms Protest Seunghan’s Withdrawal

Another important part of the boycott involves not purchasing any albums or merchandise the group releases, and many fans have already cancelled their pre-orders of RIIZE’s recently released MD.

Unexpectedly, this aspect of the boycott has been escalated by K-Pop album suppliers.

On various social media platforms, multiple K-Pop retailers have announced that they will not be placing further orders of RIIZE merchandize once their current stocks are depleted. Shops like those based in North America, including SubK Shop, EvePink and LightUpK have shared announcements.

Announcement Regarding RIIZE Products pic.twitter.com/bepIKAFlgA

— SubK Shop (@subkshop) October 15, 2024

evepink a very popular Texas based kpop store has responded back to my email regarding discontinuing of sales of Riize albums and merch. They have decided to cease restocking any Riize merch or albums moving forward🧡 pic.twitter.com/gzQFztB7Bd

— Aali ˚୨୧⋆｡ (@teenytonton) October 15, 2024

Hello, this is LIGHTUPK.

After careful consideration, LIGHTUPK has made the decision to halt RIIZE restocks for the time being.

This decision does NOT affect the current stock we have, nor does it affect any current pre-orders.

— LightUpK (@LightUpKShop) October 15, 2024

here are some kpop stores in the us supporting the boycott by halting restocks of riize albums/merchandise!#SMStandsForBullying#SeunghanWasBullied#SaveRIIZEfromSM #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #AlwaysWithSeunghan#SEUNGHAN #홍승한 #SMSupportsBullying pic.twitter.com/TOEd3hhSJ4

— 🌻🫧 (@snflwrnct) October 16, 2024

Several large shops in Europe have also shared they will not be restocking RIIZE merchandize due to the current circumstances as well. Fans in Asia have also gotten responses from local shops agreeing to not restock or to cease sales entirely.

Announcement about SEUNGHAN & RIIZE

Please read the message. We sincerely hope this will be the last time this happens to an idol because of malicious behavior from fans 😢#RiizeIs7 #RIIZE #RIIZE7 #protectseunghan pic.twitter.com/BRuJPVyCV2

— Hey!Hallyu (@HeyHallyu_) October 15, 2024

Daebak and ipurple, both one of the biggest European Kpop stores, will not restock RIIZE albums & merch 👏🏼#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN#AlwaysWithSeunghan#SMSupportsBullying https://t.co/uP2PGnv6te pic.twitter.com/FCqiYZ79gx

— caro 🌹 (@caro_xo_) October 15, 2024

Singapore fans are currently doing our best to reach out to our local KPOP stores to halt all the orders in view of the boycott.#AlwaysWithSeunghan #SMSupportsBullying#SEUNGHAN #홍승한#라이즈는_북두칠성 pic.twitter.com/UCDDPLoflT

— RIIZE SG UNION (@RIIZE_SGUNION) October 15, 2024

With several of these major retailers joining in on this financial aspect of the boycott, many believe this will send an even stronger message to SM Entertainment.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself but seeing all these BIG kpop stores standing with us for this protest… something big is about to happen… https://t.co/z6WTENNQGo

— ☆ haven ☆ aka WOONGKI BOY’s and HARUTO’s devotee (@havenistired) October 16, 2024

I want SM to be scared shitless when they get all the cancelled riize restocking orders worth thousands of dollars lost from kpop stores around the world#SMStandsForBullying #SeunghanWasBullied #SaveRIIZEfromSM

— SunRII7E 🫧 (@riize_sunny7) October 15, 2024

This is how you do it!!! Hit them right in the pockets.#SMSupportsBullying #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN https://t.co/iRiCSfU9tN

— Caratwol Jess (@CaratJess1020) October 15, 2024