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Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Former Riize member Seunghan to debut solo in July under new identity 'XngHan'
Some international fans still call for the K-pop singer's return, blaming SM Entertainment for his departure XngHan, formerly Seunghan of SM Entertainment's boy group Riize, is set to return to the spotlight with his solo debut in late July — nearly nine months after stepping away from the group amid personal controversies. According to SM Entertainment on Thursday, the singer will now promote under the stage name 'XngHan,' a stylized form of his Korean name pronounced the same but spelled with an 'X' to signify 'infinite potential and crossover.' The agency said the new name reflects his ambition to defy fixed stereotypes and limitations as an artist. 'This new journey begins in July, and XngHan aims to craft boundary-pushing performances and experiences with creatives who align with his evolving vision,' SM Entertainment said in a statement. XngHan debuted as a member of Riize in September 2023, but halted all activities just two months later amid growing backlash over his private life. Controversy first emerged in August that year, before the group's debut, when several private photos were leaked online, including one of him lying in bed with a woman and another showing him smoking in public in Japan. He also faced criticism after a leaked Instagram Live conversation with Big Hit Music's boy group TXT's Soobin included comments referencing a female idol. Riize has since continued as a six-member act, releasing hits such as 'Love 119' and 'Boom Boom Bass.' SM Entertainment initially announced his return to Riize in October but reversed the decision just two days later following a surge of negative reactions from Korean fans. His departure from the group was confirmed later that month, leaving his status uncertain for nearly a year. In a handwritten letter shared at the time, Seunghan apologized to fans and his former bandmates, writing, 'I don't want to cause them any more harm. I truly love Riize and sincerely hope they continue to be loved.' Despite the controversy, some international Riize fans have continued to support him. In an email sent to The Korea Herald last month, they wrote, 'Though he committed no wrongdoing, SM failed to defend him publicly or ensure his safety.'
Korea Herald
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
How SM Entertainment cleverly uses the classics
Concerts show the 30-year-old entertainment powerhouse's confidence and long-term vision On Friday night at the Seoul Arts Center, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra presented classical adaptations of hit songs from K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, which celebrated its 30th anniversary that day. The concert was held again on Saturday at Lotte Concert Hall, another leading venue for classical music concerts, featuring Red Velvet's Wendy. The concerts showcased many of SM's strengths and its long-term vision. SM's power to draw a younger audience to a classical music performance was evident, as the crowd was noticeably more youthful than those of typical classical concerts. According to Interpark, a ticket booking platform, those in their twenties accounted for 41.3 percent of the bookings, followed by teenagers at 4.9 percent. Yun So-yeong, 26, traveled from Gwangju City -- about 270 kilometers south of Seoul -- to attend the concert on Friday. She said, for her, that the primary attraction was Minho, a member of boy group SHINee. 'I thought Minho would be at the center of the stage, so I purchased a seat right in the middle of the first row,' Yun told The Korea Herald after the performance. Although she was disappointed to see Minho appear only for the opening remarks and from the side of the stage, she was thoroughly impressed by the concert. 'While I've been to classical concerts before, it was my first time attending one by a renowned orchestra like the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra,' she said. 'It was really, really good. I'd come again.' Her younger sister, Yun Na-yeong, who accompanied her and is a fan of rock music, said she unexpectedly enjoyed the concert. 'My favorite was 'Growl,'' added the younger Yun, a 24-year-old college student. 'I was already somewhat familiar with SM songs because my sister listens to them often, but hearing them performed by an orchestra felt incredibly fascinating,' she added. The older sister, an elementary school teacher, said that the orchestral renditions of SM songs could serve as excellent educational material. 'Kids really have short attention spans,' she explained. 'But if they listen to songs they're already familiar with -- like the recently released 'Boom Boom Bass' -- I think they'll really enjoy it. They'll find it very refreshing.' Kicking off the concert with "Welcome to SMCU Palace," the intro track from the 2022 SM Town Winter Album, conductor Kim Yoo-won and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra performed a total of 18 songs: Red Velvet's "Red Flavor," "Feel My Rhythm," and "Psycho"; NCT's "Make A Wish" and "Golden Age"; BoA's "Tree"; EXO's "Growl"; aespa's "Black Mamba"; Jonghyun's "The End of a Day"; SHINee's "Sherlock"; NCT Dream's "Hello Future"; TVXQ's "Rising Sun"; Super Junior's "Merry U"; Wendy's "When This Rain Stops"; Riize's "Boom Boom Bass"; Girls' Generation's "Into the New World' and H.O.T's 'Hope.' Most of the songs were arranged by multiple composers. For example, "Boom Boom Bass" -- originally by SM Entertainment boy group Riize -- was composed by four different songwriters, while its orchestration was handled by five. SM Classics CEO Moon Jung-jae told The Korea Herald after the concert that they adopted the same approach SM Entertainment uses for its K-pop artists -- one rooted in collaboration and diverse creative input -- and he believes the results have been exceptional. SM's latest concert showcased the company's clever utilization of its powerful intellectual property -- music crafted not only to captivate listeners today but also to potentially resonate with fans as they grow older. The event also underscored SM's confidence in its long-term vision, a sentiment echoed in Minho's opening remarks. 'K-pop, the product of collaborations with today's top composers, meets the repertoire and musical language of the great classical composers accumulated over centuries, giving birth to a new form of orchestral music. I want to call it not only the classical music of 2025, but also the classical of the distant future.'
