Several K-pop retailers halt restock of RIIZE merchandise amid the group’s line-up controversy

16 October, 2024

riize seunghan boycott international k-pop retailers halt imports

Several K-pop retailers across the globe have announced that they will be halting restocks of RIIZE merchandise amid growing unhappiness among fans due to the group’s line-up controversy.

Numerous retailers specialising in K-pop merchandise have announced the temporary halt of RIIZE merchandise imports in light of the recent events surrounding the departure of former member Seunghan. They include numerous major and minor retailers across various continents, including North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

SubK Shop, a major K-pop retailer based in the US, announced today (October 16) that it would pause imports of RIIZE merchandise “out of respect for our customers, fans, and the artist”.

It added that existing orders will continue to be fulfilled, while “future sales will be re-evaulated as the situation evolves”. Other competitors in the US market, including K-pop Nara and Choice Music LA, have made similar moves.

Elsewhere, numerous European shops have also announced halts in RIIZE merchandise imports. These include the continent-wide retailer iPurple, France’s Boutique Musica, Germany’s Nolae and the Netherlands’ Hey!Hallyu among others.

In Asia and Oceania, Australia’s I Heart K-pop and K-pop Time have both also paused restocks of RIIZE goods, while several other Asian stores such as the Philippines’ CNA K-pop and Seoul Stop have also done the same.

SM Entertainment has yet to respond to ongoing uproar from international K-pop fans against the departure of Seunghan from RIIZE. Seunghan’s decision to leave the group happened just two days after the K-pop agency announced that he would be returning to RIIZE after a year-long hiatus.

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