RIIZE's Eunseok has issued an apology after drawing criticism for using a derogatory term for Black people. The statement was made directly through the fan communication platform Bubble on Wednesday (May 6, 2026).
In the message, Eunseok admitted his mistake in sharing a childhood photo the day before. He expressed regret for his inappropriate choice of words and lack of careful consideration in his communication.
Eunseok also added that although he had realized his mistake and immediately deleted the message yesterday, he felt the need to apologize again because he realized the impact of the hurt that might be felt by many parties.
The incident began on May 5th, which coincided with Children's Day in South Korea. Eunseok sent fans a photo of himself as a child with a caption containing the term "깜둥이" (Kkamdung-i).
The term is a Korean word that is often used as a mockery or derogatory term for people with dark or black skin. Although the message was deleted shortly after being sent, screenshots of the conversation have been widely circulated on social media and sparked discussion among international fans.
At the end of his statement, Eunseok promised to be more careful in his thoughts and actions in the future. Meanwhile, RIIZE is currently preparing for their comeback with the release of their second mini-album on June 15th.
Interestingly, on the same day as the incident, the SM Entertainment group also received praise for donating 30 million won to a local orphanage on behalf of their fan club, BRIIZE, to celebrate Children's Day.
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