SM Entertainment Sparks Outrage With RIIZE’s Season’s Greetings

Just a few days ago, Seunghan‘s departure from RIIZE was announced. This decision was made within 48 hours after it was announced he would return after a 10-month hiatus. Many international fans have been left confused and heartbroken as a result. Seunghan’s departure from the group appeared to be a result of SM Entertainment giving in to bullying from some Korean fans who protested his return, sending funeral wreaths to the company, as they were angry about his pre-debut lifestyle, as it had been revealed he had a girlfriend and smoked.

Seunghan

Consequently, international fans are now protesting and boycotting RIIZE and SM Entertainment unless Seunghan returns. K-Pop stores worldwide have joined the boycott, even releasing statements, promising not to stock RIIZE products.

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

Now, SM Entertainment has unveiled RIIZE’s 2025 Season’s Greetings. It features six RIIZE members in a “boarding school of wizardry” concept.

2025 SM ARTIST SEASON’S GREETINGS #RIIZE
10월 17일 (목)부터 다양한 온라인 판매처를 통해 예약하실 수 있습니다. pic.twitter.com/fta3mWobK0

— RIIZE (@RIIZE_official) October 16, 2024

The post went viral with 2.2M views on X (formerly Twitter) at the time of writing. Many fans protested the post, flooding the comments while emphasizing, “RIIZE is 7.” 

Many are promising not to give SM Entertainment any more money.

Some fans also felt that the Season’s Greetings release was a slap in the face that SM Entertainment never intended for Seunghan to return, as they had apparently had the six-member formation prepared and ready for release.

why did sm make an ot6 season greetings for 2025 if they were gonna bring him back https://t.co/y8GWAA5n3W

— َ (@crashcrowns) October 16, 2024

posting season's greetings when in fact he should be there if the company really wanted him back. this just proves something and i am genuinely so mad. keep boycotting! do not engage with anything that riize releases.#SMStandsForBullying #SeunghanWasBullied #SaveRIIZEfromSM

— ً (@kswyhee) October 16, 2024

riize seasons greetings kinda made me feel sick like if seunghan was supposed to come back was he just not going to be in the seasons greetings lmfao ?? would they have done a new shoot or did they have 2 versions ready??#SMStandsForBullying#SeunghanWasBullied#SaveRIIZEfromSM

— rina (@kittytenz) October 16, 2024

The way riize posted up in that seasons greeting tells me he was never going to be there in the first place which is fucking WILD

— Skyy (ᓀ‸ᓂ )| Blonde Doie’s Wife | (@d3aththekiddd) October 16, 2024

Fans are suspicious that SM Entertainment never wanted Seunghan to return, and they briefly brought him back and used some fans’ negative reactions as reason for his removal.

The 2025 RIIZE SEASON’S GREETINGS was already planned without Seunghan. And you want me to believe that during those 10 months of hiatus he couldn't do the photoshoot with the group??

If his departure was already planned, why did SM managed the situation in this way?

— 🐥 (@missbirdy_PWB) October 16, 2024

They just decided to remove Seunghan on the line up 2 days ago but they already have a pre-planned OT6 shoot for 2025 SG.

FUCK U SM!!! https://t.co/T6ctCkrysm

— Ye⁹ + RIIZE IS 7 (ON BREAK) (@_yuriiipsy) October 16, 2024

i knew it. it was a set up. THEY SET UP SEUNGHAN UP SO THEY CAN FINALLY HAVE THE EXCUSE TO KICK HIM OUT OF RIIZE FUCK THEMMM https://t.co/646ZcGBopC

— ★ (@riizemv) October 16, 2024

SM just proved they never actually meant to bring Seunghan back. They knew what the reaction would be, and they were counting on him "choosing to leave".
FUCK THIS SHIT ASS COMPANY https://t.co/xh90TW6cRT

— 로템✡︎little sunshine🎗️ (@little_woobear) October 16, 2024

Yet, some fans are suspicious that Seunghan was involved in the photoshoot. They claim that some editing appears off and rushed.

합성 티가 너무..
승핝이도 같이 찍지 않았을카.. https://t.co/eQNl9OwPIa pic.twitter.com/LVofGNVcSs

— 짱인 (@zzangin_z) October 16, 2024

The synthetic tee is just too…
Didn’t Seunghan take a photo with you too?

shit ugly, yall did this in picsart??? https://t.co/3czGsv5dk5

— jay (@cupidtimes) October 16, 2024

lol this is obviously made last minute because they’re the only with a different layout compared to other sm grps https://t.co/nwiTGizlLw

— illa ☆ (@illanohimitsu) October 16, 2024

ELLE Korea also triggered fans by revealing RIIZE as one of their cover stars. Read more below.

ELLE Korea’s New RIIZE Magazine Covers Trigger Reactions