RIIZE's New Hair Sparks Backlash Days Before 'Insomnia' Drops

RIIZE releases its new digital single "Insomnia" on Monday, October 26, and so far the buildup has been more about the members' hair than the music.

A moody group photo of all six members, each with a new hairstyle, went viral for the wrong reasons among Korean netizens and set off a wave of criticism days before the release, Koreaboo reports.

The changes run across the whole lineup. Sohee now has a short cut, and Wonbin has switched to platinum blonde waves.

Much of the response was harsh. In the reactions Koreaboo collected, many commenters sided with the early critics, and some called the hair the weakest part of a comeback look they already found disappointing.

Others suspected the styles were wigs. That theory only left them more puzzled about why the team picked these looks in the first place.

The verdict was not unanimous. Some netizens defended the concept, but a larger group accused the styling team of giving the same members unflattering hair over and over.

"Insomnia" is only the first step. RIIZE follows the single with EMOTIION, its second full-length album, in spring 2027.