Sunghoon of RIIZE has officially left the group, following a controversial return announcement that caused confusion among fans.
October/14/2024 00:18
Sunghoon of RIIZE is departing. Today (13th), SM Entertainment's Wizard Production officially announced Sunghoon's departure through a statement. Just two days after announcing his return to the group, the announcement was overturned. The agency stated, "First of all, we sincerely apologize for the great hurt and confusion caused to BRIIZE by the announcement of Sunghoon's return on the 11th of last week," and expressed regret for prioritizing the agency's position over the importance of the growth achieved by the six members of RIIZE and the support from BRIIZE. They explained that they believed that if Sunghoon repented for past mistakes and returned, they could bring greater happiness to the artists and fans by showing RIIZE's growth as a team, which was a decision made after long deliberation. They also conveyed that Sunghoon expressed his intention to leave the team for the sake of the members and fans. They announced that they respect the artist's decision and that Sunghoon will not be rejoining RIIZE but will be departing instead. Sunghoon faced controversy just before RIIZE's debut due to issues from his trainee days, with a photo of a man believed to be him kissing a woman circulating online, causing a stir among fans. On the 11th of this month, he announced his return to the group, but mixed reactions from fans continued. Wizard Production's official comment stated, "Hello, this is Wizard Production. First of all, we sincerely apologize for the great hurt and confusion caused to BRIIZE by the announcement of Sunghoon's return on the 11th of last week. We are filled with regret for prioritizing the agency's position over the importance of the growth achieved by the six members of RIIZE and the support from BRIIZE. We believed that if Sunghoon repented for past mistakes and returned, we could bring greater happiness to the artists and fans by showing RIIZE's growth as a team. However, reflecting on the opinions and reactions from fans after the announcement, we realized that our decision caused greater confusion and hurt to the fans. At the same time, Sunghoon has made it clear that he wishes to leave the team for the sake of the members and fans. We respect the artist's decision and would like to inform you that Sunghoon will be departing from RIIZE instead of rejoining. We plan to support Sunghoon in showcasing his talents and dreams. Above all, we sincerely apologize for causing difficulties and confusion to the six members who have worked hard since their debut, always thinking of the fans. We will do our utmost to support the members of RIIZE in their continued growth. Wizard Production will take great care in all matters moving forward and will strive to ensure that RIIZE and BRIIZE can enjoy happy times together for a long time.
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