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Former RIIZE member XngHan to drop solo work on July 31
K-pop act XngHan&Xoul / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
Seunghan, the K-pop singer who left rookie boy band RIIZE following a personal life controversy, is set to return to the music scene under a new name, XngHan, with his solo debut confirmed for July 31.
SM Entertainment, the singer's agency, announced Wednesday that Seunghan, whose real name is Hong Seung-han, will relaunch his career at the end of this month with his new stage name and a newly launched artist identity of XngHan&Xoul.
According to the label, the rebrand combines the letter "X" — representing limitless possibilities and cross-genre creativity — with his name and "Xoul," a flexible unit performing alongside him.
As part of the project's initial promotions, XngHan will release his debut single, "Waste No Time," at the end of July, featuring two new tracks.
"This debut project highlights one of XngHan's biggest strengths and interests, performance, by teaming up with two professional dancers to deliver a more complete stage experience ... We expect it to bring a fresh energy to the K-pop scene," SM explained through the Wednesday statement.
Teaser images for the single were released at midnight Wednesday on the project's official Instagram, while preorders for the album opened the same day through online and offline retailers.
XngHan, former member of K-pop boy band RIIZE / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
XngHan, 21, debuted in September 2023 as one of seven members of RIIZE, then SM's newest boy band. His time with the group, however, was cut short after details of his private life were leaked on social media, sparking controversy within the fandom. The backlash led him to suspend his activities just two months later.
In October 2024, roughly 10 months after XngHan stepped back from the group, SM announced plans for his return to RIIZE, but the move was met with strong fan pushback. Two days after the announcement, he shared a handwritten letter and finalized his decision to withdraw from the group.
The agency later confirmed that the singer would continue his music career as a solo artist. In November 2024, SM said he had resumed training with full support in production, management and performance, asking fans to "continue to show warm interest and support."