When Seunghan first debuted with RIIZE in 2023, it looked like the start of something huge. The group sold over a million copies of their debut single Get a Guitar and were building a strong following.
In less than a year, that bright beginning was overshadowed by leaked personal videos, a forced hiatus, and a wave of intense bullying from fans that ultimately ended his idol career before it could truly begin.
Can Seunghan Rewrite His Story?
A scandal like that might’ve convinced anyone else to walk away. Instead of retreating, Seunghan went in a different direction. Now, nearly two years later, he’s back with a bold new project that signals not just a career shift, but a personal one too. His new artistic identity, XngHan & Xoul, isn’t about becoming a solo idol. It’s about becoming something else entirely.
Can an artist like Seunghan reclaim his future by rejecting the system that once embraced, and then rejected him?
A Creative Collective
With his debut single “Waste No Time,” Seunghan introduces us to XngHan&Xoul.
XngHan is Seunghan’s new stage name. It’s a stylized take on his Korean name, with the “X” representing the unknown variable, infinite potential, and uncharted territory. Then there’s “Xoul,” which refers to the collaborators who will join him in each project. Right now, that includes two professional dancers who make up the rest of the debut trio. In the future, Xoul could include anyone from stylists, choreographers, and visual artists. It’s more of a rotating creative crew.
This flexible, collective approach helps reframe Seunghan’s identity as an artist building something new from scratch.
A Debut Built on Movement
Waste No Time, released July 31, is a bright, energetic dance track bursting with synths and momentum. It has a simple message encouraging listeners to seize the moment.
The music is only part of the story. What really defines XngHan & Xoul is dance. Not just as choreography, but as language and a way to connect with others. The entire concept hinges on movement as communication. In this debut, Seunghan and his two dance collaborators use their bodies to express everything words can’t: vulnerability, joy, resilience. It’s three performers creating something together that none of them could do alone.
A Shadowed Past That Still Echoes
It’s impossible to talk about Seunghan’s reinvention without confronting the trauma that brought him here. His departure from RIIZE was a public trial by fire, played out across fan sites and social media platforms where empathy often goes to die.
Even after SM Entertainment announced his return to RIIZE in October 2024, the fan backlash in Korea was swift and brutal. Some even went as far to place funeral wreaths outside SM’s headquarters in protest. Within two days, the company folded under pressure. Seunghan was out.
The entire ordeal exposed the darker side of parasocial fandom culture. How easily it can turn on the very people it claims to support. It also showed just how unforgiving the idol system can be, especially for young artists caught in personal controversies, no matter how minor or distant.
Yet, here he is. Not chasing fame or begging for forgiveness. Just quietly putting out art that speaks for itself.
Reclaiming the Narrative
XngHan&Xoul is more than just a solo debut. It’s Seunghan reclaiming his career and hopefully his reputation too.
By focusing on collaboration and creativity, he’s forging a path that feels refreshing and authentic. Not every fallen idol gets a second act. Few get to write their own script. That’s exactly what he’s doing and he’s wasting no time. In doing so, he’s proving that there is life after scandal, even in the crazy world of K-pop.
