International Fans Defend RIIZE’s Seunghan After Alleged “Couple Photos” Suddenly Surface Online

SM Entertainment‘s upcoming boy group, RIIZE, was officially introduced at the end of July.

Since then, the group’s seven members have been unveiled, including former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan, and fans have gotten to know more about RIIZE through their pre-release tracks and fun content uploaded to their official social media accounts.

The new boy group is creating a considerable amount of buzz. They already have a dedicated fanbase, who recently rushed to the defense of member Seunghan after photos circulated from an unknown source that allegedly showed the RIIZE member in a kissing “couple photo.”

Some Twitter users uploaded the photos using a hashtag with the RIIZE member’s name, revealing little other information, making the validity and authenticity of the photos unverifiable.

신인이 가지가지 하는구나 pic.twitter.com/TAYC7xtyjD

— 뽀송이???? (@BBOSONGEEEEE) August 27, 2023

In only a few hours, the Tweet containing the photos gained over seven million views and 22,700 quote tweets, with the majority showing their support for the RIIZE member, who officially debuts on September 4.

While some fans questioned the authenticity of the photos, others acknowledged that idols had lives before their debuts and that netizens should be respectful of idols as humans.

He's a grown man, of course he's dated girls before, who cares? He trained and is working hard as an artist, we are in 2023 you should have matured by this retrograde and ridiculous thinking. Seunghan we will be supporting you, shine with RIIZE!!

— Júlia : GET A GUITAR (@mysunriize0904) August 27, 2023

It’s still a picture with no clear information and if this is true, what’s wrong if a trainee have a date

— Dung Doan (@DungDoa95922791) August 27, 2023

some of y’all need to get over the fact idols are still humans at the end of the day and that dating someone is normal.. anyways

Get A Guitar by RIIZE out on
2023.09.04 6PM (KST)

Pre-save & Pre-orderhttps://t.co/AswMBNfcYm https://t.co/qEKPRu0lNE pic.twitter.com/YTW4udeWGr

— ً (@14yunos) August 27, 2023

International fans continued to shower Seunghan in support, whether they believed in the authenticity of the photos or not.

people that are complaining on the qrts literally go outside, make some friends, touch some grass… he's a grown man and he can do whatever he wants, he's a human being why are you so bothered if he's dating someone? he'll never date you weirdos anyways leave him alone https://t.co/8EzCAVV2uI

— bells (@jensungirl) August 27, 2023

Well, just because he WAS a rookie doesn't mean that he isn't a human and can't date anyone! Even if he is still dating her or someone else, I will still support him for his talent, not him being single or his relationship!

— Carryyy~ haha (@Gumayusi__) August 27, 2023

Others took the massive interaction the Tweet received as a positive sign of the group’s global fame ahead of their official debut.

4,8M views and 16k+ qrts in A HOUR. Yup. Seunghan and RIIZE will be so BIG https://t.co/pjlEHfe2fW pic.twitter.com/tJS5XvzJn0

— 엘 (@bysunriize) August 27, 2023

4.8 M impressions within an hour , y'all don't forget to tune into riize first single album Get a Guitar out on 4th September pic.twitter.com/SrvrVA8WoY https://t.co/7vLEajU60S

— × (@junieslays) August 27, 2023

As responses to the alleged photos of Seunghan continue to increase, SM Entertainment has not responded at this time.