"Bukdoo Chilsung...?" — RIIZE Was Almost Named Something Else And This Is What It Means

RIIZE is SM Entertainment‘s hottest new boy group, but they weren’t always meant to be called RIIZE.

The group had been in the works for ages. As the first boy group to be produced by the company ever since NCT‘s debut in 2016, a lot of thought and hard work went into preparations for the group. RIIZE was SM Entertainment’s first boy group in seven years, and the first 5th-generation group they had. Planning for a debut takes years. Likewise, the group underwent a few name changes and options before the company finally settled on “RIIZE.” The boys spilled the beans on the other nominees for their group name during their comeback livestream for “Talk Saxy.”

라이즈 팀명 후보로 앤드원(..)이랑
북두칠성(;;;;;;) 도 잇엇대 ㅆㅂ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/fmZcM5hWDP

— 만두 ´･ ·̮ ･` (@dancingtaro) October 26, 2023

There were two other options. The first was “And One“. Seunghan immediately reacted to the name, recalling that “it had been awhile since they heard it.” The other option was “The Great Dipper.” In Korean, the name is “bukdoo chilsung,” which literally means “the seven stars of the great bear.” The Great Dipper constellation is made out of seven stars. With seven members, it could’ve been an apt and unique name!

Although many had complained about the name “RIIZE” when they just debuted, it seems like the enemy you do know might be better. Fans couldn’t contain their laughter at the other suggestions.