RIIZE member Eunseok is facing backlash after using the term "kkamdungi" while communicating with fans.
Recently, Eunseok shared a childhood photo on the paid fan platform Bubble and captioned it "kkamdungi Eunseok." In the photo, young Eunseok’s skin appears deeply tanned, drawing attention.
However, some international fans raised accusations of racism, pointing out that "kkamdungi" is no different from a slur that demeans Black people.
In response, Eunseok quickly deleted the message and posted an apology. He said, "I used the wrong expression when sharing my childhood photo," and added, "I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable because of my inappropriate word choice. I deleted it right away, but thinking of those who may already have been hurt weighed on me, so I decided to send another Bubble."
Despite his apology, screenshots had already spread across social media and overseas communities. International fans criticized, saying, "Deleting a post doesn’t erase the weight of what was said," and "Apologizing was the right thing to do." Others pushed back with reactions like, "Is this really necessary?" and "People are making too big a deal out of it."
Meanwhile, RIIZE is set to make a comeback on June 15 with their second mini album.