In this day and age, the line between being a fan and being a parasocial nuisance has never been more unclear.

Thanks in part to the highly digital nature of our lives, the growth of intense fan behavior is slowly but surely shifting into creating a dystopian society within our entertainment industry. Words are sharp like knives, and people always find a way to jab at whatever they can in this cutthroat world.

Toxicity has been deeply rooted in the entertainment industry for decades, mostly focused on celebrities’ behavior, but what happens when fans are the bad actors?

“The problem with [entertainment] companies is that they prioritize the fans more than their actual artists, [leading to] crazy fans,” says South Forsyth High School senior Amanda Rushton. “It can seriously hurt the singers.”

For celebrities whose privacy has been compromised or invaded by over-enthusiastic fans, “hurt” only begins to describe the damage involved.

Private Information, Public Chaos

The South Korean term ‘사생’ (Romanized as “sasaeng”) refers to an obsessive fan who invades the privacy of their idols, actors, and other public figures—the walking definition of fans’ intrusion into celebrities’ private lives.

In the K-pop industry, the word’s usage skyrocketed during the late ‘90s and early 2000s–known as the Hallyu wave. 

In 2009, six years after the debut of the beloved boy group TVXQ, popular member Yunho was rushed to the hospital after unknowingly consuming what was presumed to be orange juice mixed with super glue. It was revealed to be gifted by an ‘anti-fan.’ Consequently, Yunho now suffers from a fear of orange juice.

However, it doesn’t end there. 

August 30, 2023, marked the start of a RIIZE member’s worst nightmare.

Five days before the group’s highly anticipated debut, group member Seunghan issued a public apology regarding his past actions, which were leaked through private, hacked photos of him with cigarettes and kissing his then-girlfriend.

While these infractions may sound minor, K-pop and J-pop celebrities are often required to maintain a much higher level of morality that the average person.

“All of this occurred because of my imprudence,” Seunghan wrote, “and I reflected a lot on my past time and actions.”

Seunghan Hong’s Nightmare Awakened

In November 2023, almost a month after the group’s second digital single was released, their company, SM Entertainment, announced Seunghan would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the group’s activities.

The statement claimed Hong felt “mental pressure and responsibility” in the group due to his past controversy. This would hinder the start of RIIZE, which would continue as six members. 

The ominous hiatus lasted nearly ten months. Ten months of unwavering concern, anxiety, and fog for the future. Fans took it upon themselves to make their voices heard. 

In 2024, RIIZE released their first single as a temporary six-member group. Fans were confused, as it had been about two months since Seunghan’s hiatus and SM Entertainment gave no word of his well-being, even going as far as to prohibit the other members from mentioning him.

Then RIIZE dropped another single on April 18 without Seunghan, and then a mini-album on June 17. His name was credited on the songs, but he was never seen. Fans were beyond worried; where was Seunghan? 

Seunghan had been spotted on the street with friends and in restaurants, but predominantly found outside his subway ad in Korea, reading all the messages fans left him while waiting for his return. 

Months and months passed by without a word from SM Entertainment as to his whereabouts.

When Everything Began Falling Apart

That was until Oct. 11, 2024, when the entertainment company ominously released a statement confirming the 21-year-old’s permanent return to RIIZE after a year, which would begin early November during the group’s performance schedules.

Netizens worldwide were thrilled at this announcement; even non-fans tuned in to RIIZE’s music and sent support ads for Seunghan. The entertainment company also announced they would be taking legal action against any malicious comments regarding the artist. 

Member Wonbin spoke out without the company’s consent, showing support for Seunghan, stating that all members of RIIZE had thought long and hard about his return, and were thrilled to finally have him back. 

“I hope you will be able to look upon us warmly as you have been up to now, and if you cheer us on, it’ll be a great source of strength for us,” he wrote.

RIIZE felt whole again. Little did they know that less than 48 hours later everything would be over.

Funeral wreaths, meant to symbolize ‘eternal life’ and mourning for the deceased, took a dark, wretched turn when ‘sasaengs’ and others began sending them to Seunghan and displaying them outside the company building, representing death and wishing harm upon 21-year-old Seunghan Hong, imply because he could no longer fill fans’ fantasies of being an innocent, unassailable celebrity.

Seunghan Hong’s unrighteous removal from the group was announced on Oct. 13, 2024. 

Seunghan himself released his second, and final, heartfelt handwritten letter stating, “I have been deeply considering if I have only been thinking about myself up to now if I am bringing too much harm to the company and members and if it is really okay for me to be in RIIZE, a team that should be at the receiving end of love. As I think about these, I feel nothing but apologetic and worried.” 

He ultimately felt “it [was] better for everyone if I leave the group.”

Seunghan finished the letter by stating, “The relationship between RIIZE and BRIIZE [RIIZE fans], where you cheer each other on and grow together, is something I really don’t want to see worsen due to myself. It also hurts my heart to see the fans fight amongst themselves when it is already sufficient for them to simply love RIIZE. I sincerely cheer on RIIZE, whom I love, in hopes that they will receive even more love.”

The reasoning behind this matter is the couple hundreds of people in disarray with his return, contrasting with the millions of people still supporting and defending the idol.

But to entertainment companies, it’s never about what’s best for their artists–it’s about what can bring in the biggest paycheck and keep listeners interested.

The internet blew up in flames over the hypocritical actions behind SM Entertainment’s statements.

An insane amount of fans and non-fans alike began rioting outside the SM company building, reinstating boycotts, and establishing more subway ads for any and all to see. SM’s RIIZE sales began plummeting, reaching the lowest they’ve ever been–however, none of this provoked the company to add Seunghan back.

SM Entertainment had been pushing out numerous types of content per week, scheduling performances and press conferences to try to keep fans engaged and distracted from the loss RIIZE members and fans alike are experiencing.

A petition was posted to Change.org on Oct. 13 by a girl named Lauren Kim to bring Seunghan back, saying “He had a promising future, but because of horrible ‘fans’ of RIIZE, it all led up to this unfortunate fate.”

The petition has gained a total of 311,462 signatures as of Nov. 12, 2024.

The Future of RIIZE and Seunghan Hong

The members of RIIZE themselves have been subtly speaking out against Seunghan’s withdrawal. Whether it’s continuing to hold up seven fingers in group pictures or rearranging choreographies to hold an open, conspicuous space, they’re getting their point across loud and clear. 

RIIZE’s career has suffered a plethora of ups and downs–however, with the notable hypocrisy and unfairness regarding the group’s company, fans are finding it difficult to show any support for the artists.

How can you love something that’s hurting others?

Perhaps caving to pressure, on Nov. 15, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Seunghan Hong will debut solo in the first half of 2025.

Fans are outraged at the company’s blatant disregard for what the majority of fans, and their artists, truly want.

“We want him in RIIZE,” followers online commented, stressing their anger.

The phrase “RIIZE is 7” took over the internet.

Will Seunghan Hong ever rise from the ashes of his own career, or will people take this from him, too?

Where Do We Go From Here?

Seunghan isn’t the first to suffer from such demeaning behavior, and he surely won’t be the last.

His case, however, brings light to the dark side of one-sided bonds, otherwise known as parasocial relationships. Celebrities are humans with private lives that don’t belong to fans’ narratives or expectations.

It’s time to uproot this toxic fan behavior and confront the harm of placing responsibility for the public’s personal happiness on the actions of strangers. These relationships are ultimately based on fiction, and it’s a dangerous line to blur.

Sources:

“How Pop Music Fandom Became Sports, Politics, Religion and All-Out War” from The New York Times 

“13 Extremely Disturbing Stories Of Sasaeng Fans That Went Too Far” from Koreaboo

“History of K-Pop: Sasaeng Fans” from The Kraze

“Seunghan’s Exit from RIIZE Timeline: From Hiatus to Fan Backlash” from J-14

“A Complete Timeline of RIIZE’s Seunghan’s Debut Until Group Departure” from When In Manila