Fans react as SM releases RIIZE OT6 2025 season’s greetings shortly after Seunghan’s departure

On October 16, 2024, SM Entertainment released the RIIZE OT6 2025 Season’s Greetings, just days after Seunghan’s official departure from the K-pop group RIIZE on October 13. Seunghan had been absent from the group since November 2023, following controversy over leaked personal photos and videos. Initially, SM Entertainment announced on October 11 that Seunghan would return, but he was removed from the group just two days later.

The 2025 Season’s Greetings, titled "RIIZE Boarding School of Wizardry," features six members of the group, excluding Seunghan, which led fans to express their frustration online. Many fans believe SM never intended to bring Seunghan back. One user on X commented, “This was all a premeditated plan… they never planned to bring him back in the first place.”

Other fans criticized the timing of the release, calling it disrespectful to Seunghan. One fan wrote, “They never planned to have him back… SM, I have no words. Don’t buy this!” Another fan added, “It’s a setup… they already planned for 6 members only.”

Despite the controversy, several fans have voiced support for Seunghan. Super Junior’s Leeteuk retweeted a post expressing sympathy for him, while other fans vowed not to support the Season’s Greetings until Seunghan is reinstated.