Many fans had been waiting for this moment.
Koreaboo
In November 2023, it was announced that then-RIIZE‘s Seunghan would take a break from promotions.
Nearly a year later, the idol was announced to be rejoining activities, before a storm of protests resulted in his leaving the group less than two days after the initial announcement. Since then, the group has continued on as six, while Seunghan re-debuted as XngHan.
While fans have made their feelings clear about the situation through protests, the members of RIIZE had not spoken about XngHan or vice versa until the now-solo artist’s debut.
Fans often depended on RIIZE’s actions to try to determine their feelings on the situation, but the group has officially broken their silence on the former member.
RIIZE is currently in America for their RIIZING LOUD world tour and sat down for an interview with People, where the topic of Xnghan’s departure and “scandal” were discussed. Anton mentioned that RIIZE “were glad to see that he’s doing well for himself,” while Shotaro mentioned interactions.
We do bump into each other at the company, but we just support each other. We greet each other warmly.
— Shotaro
Anton also added that “thankfully, we’re doing well, and he’s doing well,” and how his departure affected the group after.
Since we still had things that we had to get done, it gave us an opportunity to bond even more and work together even more. We got through those tough times, and we’re here now.
— Anton
After the interview’s release, there was a mixture of reactions from fans of the group and the solo artist. Some did not appreciate RIIZE’s mentioning the idol now, rather than during the time he was still a member.
didnt even dare to mention his name for over a year when he was officially still a member didnt defend him even after he left he was the first to mention them and wish them well but still got trashed by their fans… and now you tell me they suddenly want to mention him ?
— am (@xngllit) October 30, 2025
hearing “we became closer after he left” just feels unfair…like it completely ignores what sh went through to protect their image. It’s like they’re turning his pain into a storyline for growth when it should’ve been about protecting and standing by him when it mattered😭
— 🍀 (@kitxngkat) October 31, 2025
no one was allowed to speak about him or ask about him for years. he was constantly edited out for years. he was sent death threats and funeral wreaths. not a single person stood up for him, only one DELETED weverse post. why are we allowed to speak about him now that he’s picked…
— vex met xnghan ꕤ (@jellypopology) October 31, 2025
Others felt that anger towards RIIZE after this interview was unfair, mentioning that the group were affected by the departure as well.
getting mad at rz and being weird towards them is actually crazy like wb didn’t make a whole ass weverse post saying they as group talked about him coming back and wanting him to come back pic.twitter.com/WAmINsJQDd
— adri ☆ (@okshtr0) October 30, 2025
yall need to understand riize TOO were hurt in that situation, can’t believe we’re still talking about it but the boys TRIED to speak up and toxic fans still failed them. yall r not better than them btw hating on them when seunghan himself is supporting them and cares for them https://t.co/WPxYh1H3QQ
— momo ⭐️ (@momosunriize) October 30, 2025
so when riize didn’t mention seunghan it was a problem for yall but now they can and have mentioned him it’s still a problem ? yall don’t even care about what happened anymore it’s just for the sake of hating on them for no reason
— 🍥 (@xouImates) October 30, 2025
October 13 officially marked exactly one year since Xnghan’s departure was announced.