Meet the 7 members of ‘monster rookie’ K-pop group, Riize: Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton make up SM’s first new band debut in 7 years

On July 31, SM Entertainment, the force behind several hugely popular groups including Shinee, Girls Generation, Exo and others, revealed that it would finally introduce a new seven-member boy group named Riize this September after seven long years, per Sportskeeda.

According to SM, the group’s name Riize combines the words “Rise” and “Realise”, expressing the idea that the group will join together as one and realise their aspirations. The ensemble’s musical style is said to be “emotional pop”.

SM unveiled the official Instagram account for Riize on August 1, presenting all seven members in teaser photographs uploaded on August 17 and 18. The group is comprised of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton.

6 K-pop and Thai stars who were just named luxury ambassadors in summer 2023

Even before their debut, the boys have become talk of the town. According to Soompi, on August 5 – just four days after their account was created – Riize’s Instagram profile surpassed 1 million followers, making them the fastest K-pop group to reach that milestone.

Riize will debut its first album Get a Guitar on September 4.

Here’s everything we know so far about SM’s seven new idols.

1. Shotaro, 22

The idol rose to prominence on TikTok for his dance covers before making his official debut on NCT’s 2020 album Resonance Pt. 1. Fans praised Shotaro’s performance in the music video of the album’s title single “Make a Wish”.

When SM announced Shotaro’s departure from NCT earlier this year, many fans were disappointed. However, his three years in the group make him one of the most experienced members in Riize, prompting fans to wonder if he will take on the role of “leader”, which is typically assigned to the eldest member of a K-pop group.

2. Eunseok, 22

Fans first became enamoured with Riize’s Song Eunseok in July 2022 when SM introduced him via their pre-debut training team, SM Rookies.

Eunseok, 22, was born on March 19, 2001. While being naturally gifted with good looks, he had little interest in the entertainment industry. The idol was reportedly scouted on the street in front of his school and had to be pursued several times by SM before he eventually relented.

Eunseok trained with SM for over five years before his debut. According to multiple reports, he has a special interest in acting and hopes to pursue it one day.

Meet Kristen Kish, Top Chef’s inspiring new host after Padma Lakshmi

3. Sungchan, 21

Born on September 13, 2001, in Seoul, Jung Sungchan also made his K-pop debut with SM’s boy group NCT in 2020 alongside Riize mate Shotaro.

Sungchan was a rapper and dancer in NCT for three years, debuting in the 2020 album Resonance Pt. 2. His music video debut in NCT’s track “90’s Love” was dubbed “iconic” by many K-pop fans.

The 21-year-old is adored by fans not only for his charismatic rapping, but also for his tall stature and bubbly personality. While fans were disappointed when SM announced Sungchan’s departure from NCT, his upcoming debut in September with Riize is highly anticipated.

4. Wonbin, 21

Park Wonbin is a fresh face for fans, as he had never been introduced before joining Riize. The idol was born in South Korea on March 2, 2002 and, according to SM, possesses excellent performance and guitar skills.

Wonbin also appears to excel in dancing and choreography. On July 30, Riize’s official Instagram account posted a video showing the group performing a dance choreographed by Wonbin and Shotaro.

Why fans love the 3 K-drama stars sharing Mask Girl’s lead role of Kim Mo-mi

The young artist went viral online as soon as SM announced his debut with the new group. He has already been hailed as one of the group’s “visuals” for his striking looks. Fans are so taken by Wonbin’s appearance they’ve even gotten into heated disputes online regarding plastic surgery speculations, per Kbizoom.

5. Seunghan, 19

Hong Seunghan, like Eunseok, was a SM Rookie and trained at SM Entertainment for two and a half years before making his debut with Riize.

The 19-year-old was reportedly approached by many other agencies before joining SM. Despite his young age, Seunghan is accomplished in a variety of areas like dance and singing, and he told WWD Korea that he looks up to Exo’s Do Kyungsoo, who is highly known for his exceptional vocal abilities.

10 of Korean model Irene Kim’s favourite things, from fashion to travel

6. Sohee, 19

Lee Sohee, born on Nov 21, 2003, has been described by SM as an idol with excellent singing abilities.

Although the official positions of each member have yet to be determined, many fans are speculating that 19-year-old Sohee might take up the role of Riize’s main vocalist. Riize’s Instagram page features several videos where Sohee showcases his excellent vocal skills.

7. Anton, 19

Anton, the youngest member of the group, has drawn the greatest attention not just for his talent and looks, but also for his celebrity parents. The young star was born on March 21, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts to renowned South Korean singer and producer Yoon Sang and actress Shim Hye-jin, per Koreaboo.

Anton first got noticed when he starred on the South Korean reality show Single Wife 2. At the time, he was pursuing professional swimming in New Jersey before turning his attention to music.

Despite being the youngest member of the group, he knows a thing or two about music production and plays the cello.