New K-Pop Boy Band RIIZE Changes Fandom Name Amid Controversy

justjared.com:

RIIZE will be changing their official fandom name. The newly debuted SM Entertainment K-pop boy band officially arrived on the scene with “Get a Guitar” this month.

On Monday (September 4), the group announced their fan club name as “SUNZ” during their RIIZING DAY: RIIZE Premiere showcase.

However, two days later, SM Entertainment informed fans that they were making a change due to a negative connotation associated with “SUNZ,” as some felt that it was too close to “rising sun,” a controversial flag used by Japan during its colonial era that carries negative connotations. Keep reading to find out more… “We sincerely thank all the fans who have shown their support for RIIZE upon their debut.

With your overwhelming support, RIIZE unveiled their official fan club name, which will accompany them on their journey, on their debut date on September 4,” they began, via Soompi. “While we initially announced the fan club name as ‘SUNZ,’ which received the most votes from fans, we have since learned that there were many concerns among fans that ‘SUNZ’ could be interpreted negatively, unintentionally distorting the positive meaning of ‘SUNZ,’ which was meant to represent the fans’ growth together with RIIZE,” they continued. “Since the goal was to have a name that carries a positive meaning to call all the fans supporting RIIZE and a name that signifies [both RIIZE and the fans’] collective growth, we have decided to change the fan club name to the second most-voted option, ‘BRIIZE.’ We kindly request your understanding regarding this change,” they said. “The service for RIIZE’s official fan club ‘BRIIZE’ will officially start on September 12 (Tuesday).