RIIZE, a boy group that has been under the spotlight even before their debut, is grappling with the aftermath of a leaked personal photo of member Seunghan.

RIIZE is under the major K-pop agency, SM Entertainment. They are SM's first new group launch in three years since the debut of aespa and the first boy group in seven years since NCT. They are also notably the first group to debut after the departure of former chief producer Lee Soo-man, making them a highly anticipated act.

Previously, on July 31st, SM officially announced RIIZE's debut set for September. A day later, on August 1st, the official Instagram account for the team was created, revealing the faces of the seven members: Taro, Eunseok, Seongchan, Wonbin, Sohee, Anton.

After the reveal, the inclusion of Anton, son of singer and music producer Yoon Sang, became a hot topic online, further fueling interest in RIIZE. Within just four days of its creation, RIIZE's Instagram account surpassed 1 million followers.

SM collaborated with Kakao Entertainment to release a web novel titled 'Rise & Realize' on KakaoPage on the 19th, chronicling the growth story of RIIZE, further accelerating their debut promotions. On the 21st, they released the song 'Memories', and from the 26th, they have been hosting a photo exhibition showcasing the members' preparation for their debut.

The pre-released song 'Memories' topped the iTunes Top Song charts in eight regions worldwide, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Peru, Belarus, Luxembourg, and Colombia, showcasing the high global interest in RIIZE.

However, amidst this momentum, a setback occurred. Personal photos of member Seunghan were leaked online. The leaked photos depicted Seunghan and a woman in intimate moments, which could potentially harm both his personal and the group's early career given the sensitivity of such issues among K-pop fans. Seunghan was notably absent from the pre-recording of RIIZE's appearance on the Naver-Playlist K-pop chart show 'N-Pop' on the 29th. While SM cited "health issues" as the reason for his absence, many speculated it was due to the photo leak controversy.

On the 30th, SM announced their legal stance on the leaked photos, stating, "The unauthorized distribution of the photos is a clear illegal act," and confirmed plans to take legal action against those responsible. They also mentioned, "Seunghan deeply regrets causing disappointment to the fans and harm to the team right before the debut." However, details about Seunghan's relationship with the woman in the photos or when they were taken were not disclosed.

Seunghan also personally addressed the issue. Posting on RIIZE's official account, he expressed, "I deeply apologize for causing harm to the team and disappointing our members and company staff at such a crucial time before our debut." He added, "I take full responsibility for my actions and have reflected on my past behavior. I will prioritize RIIZE and act more cautiously in all situations."

RIIZE, who has been on a rollercoaster journey leading up to their debut, is set to officially start their activities on September 4th. They will release their debut single, which includes the pre-released song 'Memories' and the title track 'Get A Guitar'. All eyes are on how they will navigate the challenges posed by the photo leak controversy ahead of their debut.

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