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Former RIIZE member Seunghan is currently a topic of discussion in Korea due to his solo debut as 'XngHan', following his departure from the group. The buzz primarily stems from a series of past controversies involving his private life and subsequent strong reactions from fans, which included sending protest wreaths.
Seunghan, whose birth name is Hong Seunghan, initially debuted with RIIZE on September 4, 2023. His indefinite suspension from RIIZE was officially announced on November 22, 2023, after multiple private life leaks. These leaks included personal photos with a woman on August 28, 2023, a private live video with TXT's Soobin on November 17-18, 2023, and allegations of underage street smoking in Japan on November 20-21, 2023. Although SM Entertainment announced his return to RIIZE on October 11, 2024, he officially withdrew from the group two days later. He is now set to debut solo on July 31 with the activity name 'Seunghan & Soul' and the song "Waste No Time."
Local bloggers describe the fan sentiment, noting that while the initial reaction to his suspension was largely understanding, there was a strong demand for punishment of those who leaked his private information. However, the attempt to reinstate Seunghan in RIIZE in October 2024 was met with significant fan backlash, leading to the sending of protest wreaths and his ultimate departure. Bloggers express mixed feelings about his solo debut, with some suggesting that if there are issues, listeners can simply choose not to engage with his music, and others cautioning against any future association with RIIZE.
