On October 11th, SM Entertainment announced the return of Seunghan to RIIZE after an 11-month hiatus. While international fans of the group, known as BRIIZE, and even casual observers rejoiced at the news, the reaction among Korean fans was notably different. A significant portion of the Korean fanbase expressed their dissatisfaction, stating they would only support RIIZE as a six-member group, urging Seunghan to leave the group permanently.

Later that day, the online backlash spilled over into the real world, with dozens of funeral wreaths being delivered to the SM Entertainment building as a form of protest. This action outraged international fans, who felt it was an extreme and disrespectful way to voice dissent.

In response to the escalating situation, fellow RIIZE member Wonbin made a post on Weverse explaining that Seunghan’s return to the group was a decision made after careful discussion between all seven members and the company. He urged fans to support the group as a whole. However, the post has since been deleted, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

On October 13th, just two days after the initial announcement, it was officially revealed that Seunghan would not be returning to RIIZE. The announcement was accompanied by a handwritten letter from Seunghan, shared on Weverse, where he expressed his thoughts and emotions about the decision. You can read the full announcement here.

Following the news of Seunghan’s departure, international fans, along with fans from other K-pop fandoms, voiced their frustration and disappointment at the actions of the Korean fans. Many criticized SM Entertainment for yielding to the demands of the vocal minority, who had intensely opposed Seunghan's return.

The hashtags "#SMSupportsBullying" and "BRING SEUNGHAN BACK" quickly trended worldwide on X (formerly Twitter), with both tags reaching the top two spots globally. Fans from various K-pop communities joined forces with BRIIZE to demand justice and call attention to what they saw as unfair treatment toward Seunghan.