![Seunghan from boy band Riize [SM ENTERTAINMENT]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/08/31/b86be19c-9d29-4b7b-b98c-b2d341c2d615.jpg)
Seunghan from SM Entertainment’s upcoming boy band Riize issued an apology after a photo leak that showed him with a woman on Monday.
The photos show Seunghan kissing an unidentified person on a bed.
The agency announced a day after the leak that Seunghan will not attend the scheduled pre-recording of “NPOP,” Naver Now’s online music show program.
“I am writing as I think it’s correct to address it before standing in front of our fans,” Seunghan said in a post on Riize’s Instagram Wednesday.
“I would like to apologize to fans who’ve been supporting Riize. I have damaged the team and disappointed the members of Riize and staff of SM Entertainment with my personal actions during an important and decisive time when [the band] is about to make its debut,” he said.
“I find it sorry that I was unable to make a timely apology, as I, too, was scared and anxious about the matter,” Seunghan added.
“From now on, I will put my team Riize foremost and cautiously consider all the actions I have to encounter, on and off the stage.”
SM Entertainment also released a statement Wednesday, warning that leaking and distributing photos regarding Riize’s members’ personal lives will result in legal action.
“Photos regarding Riize members’ personal life have been posted online without consent … and such actions are clearly against the law, and the agency is currently collecting information, including against those re-distributing the photos and spreading rumors,” SM Entertainment said.
“The agency will take legal actions in all cases that are found to be a criminal offense, so we hope you take notice not to be involved in such scandalous cases.”
Riize, SM Entertainment’s new seven-member boy band, will debut on Monday with its first single “Get A Guitar.” Riize consists of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton. Shotaro and Sungchan debuted in 2020 as members of boy band NCT.
BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]