Before the debut of BTS, EXO, and GOT7, K-pop boy group Super Junior had already been dominating the world stage thanks to their amazing talent. Heck, they were already stealing every girls' hearts.
Nowadays, people know members Kim Heechul and Leeteuk as variety show hosts and Siwon Choi as an actor. While this is all true, there's no denying that these idols have played a significant role in changing the K-pop industry to become the dominating force it is today.
In celebration of their 15th anniversary, here are the things you need to know about the boy group and why they are deemed as “Hallyu Kings.”
In early 2005, SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man said he had been preparing a boy group where the members were chosen for their experience as actors, emcees, models, and radio hosts. The group is initially inspired by Japanese girl groups' rotational concept, where new members will be replacing the selected ones.
By November 6, 2005, the group debuted under the name “Super Junior 05,” making them the first generation of the boy group project. A year later, SM Entertainment abandoned the rotational concept, and the group became known as “Super Junior.”
Leeteuk, real name Park Jung-soo, is Super Junior's leader and resident “attention seeker.” He is known for his emceeing ability, which was commended by former wrestler and host Kang Ho-dong. Recently, Leeteuk is also praised for holding the group together for more than a decade.
Known for his pretty-boy looks, Kim Heechul is Super Junior's very own “Cinderella.” Heechul is also a prevalent figure in South Korea thanks to his countless hosting gigs and adlibs. Among the members, Heechul is the only one with his own fan chant, which was first sung during the group's appearance in “Intimate Note.” The chant goes, “Saranghaeyo, Kim Heechul. Milky white skin, Kim Heechul.”
Don't let his looks fool you because every Super Junior fan knows that Yesung, real name Kim Jong-hoon, is a real-life sweetheart (even if he likes to curse a lot!). He enjoys taking selfies with his members and is recognizable for his husky voice, giving depth to every Super Junior song.
If all else fails, this fandom has Shindong. Why? Because Shindong is multi-talented and excels in everything he does, including dancing, hosting, and even directing. Together with Super Junior member Eunhyuk, he would often be seen backstage directing all the Super Show concerts. He even set up his own production company called Walala Production, featured in Dasuri Choi's vlog.
If there's one thing to note about this Super Junior member, it's that ELFs definitely miss “Aegyo King” Sungmin with his members.
Sungmin is very skilled at playing instruments like the guitar, bass, drums, and piano. He is now married to musical actress Kim Sa-eun and is focused on his solo career, which includes his own YouTube channel called “Liu Studio.”
Attend any Super Junior event, and you'll often hear the name “Lee Hyuk-jae” being screamed by fans.
Lee Hyuk-jae, known for his mononym Eunhyuk, is Super Junior's very own dancing machine, jewel boy, and anchovy. As the title suggests, he is the group's main dancer who always comes up with great choreography for the group and their sub-unit Super Junior-D&E.
Most fans would be surprised that actor Siwon Choi is actually part of the legendary boy group. Not only is he the visual and center of Super Junior, but he's also dubbed as the group's very own “masi” or “horse” thanks to his athleticism and tall physique. He's also noted for his many charitable endeavors like UNICEF and his very famous motto, “No challenge, no change.”
You can't find anyone "cuter than Nemo" like singer Lee Donghae. Most people would assume that Donghae is the maknae because of his adorable personality, but in reality, he's one of the group's older members. Offstage, Donghae is a songwriter and composer who'd often write some of the sweetest songs such as “Hari,” “Don't Wake Me Up,” and (Heechul's favorite) “One More Chance.”
Ryeowook is known for his high-pitched vocals that complete every Super Junior song. He has performed in many theater stages like vocalists Yesung and Kyuhyun.
Besides his mad vocals, he is also known for his tagline “I am confident,” and his one-of-a-kind dance moves that earned him the title of “Sexbomb Ryeowook” among PH ELFs.
Vocalist Kyuhyun is not only known for his wonderful vocals but also his sharp tongue and personality, earning him the title “maknae on top.”
Aside from his wits, Kyuhyun is also one of the smartest K-pop idols. When he was a child, he loved to solve math problems earning him several trophies in competitions and even a grand prize at the Korean Mathematical Society's Olympiads.
Thanks to Super Junior, Chinese singer Hangeng was able to debut on national television and became the first non-Korean idol to do so. His background in traditional dance, ballet, and martial arts has earned him a spot to debut with the other members.
Despite leaving the group in 2011, Hangeng is close to Super Junior member Heechul. They were recently spotted together at the 2019 Cosmo Glam Night in Shanghai.
Kim Young-woon, better known by his stage name Kangin or “strong benevolence,” became part of the Super Junior project in 2005. He became a regular host of several variety shows in Korea since his debut with the group, including “Star King,” “Driving School,” “M! Countdown,” and so much more.
In 2019, Kangin decided to withdraw from the boy group after his four-year hiatus.
Before debuting as a singer, Kim Kibum made his initial debut as an actor. Known for his amazing visuals, he continued to take on acting jobs in several sitcoms leading him to withdraw from Super Junior activities in 2015. Recently, he opened his own YouTube channel with the help of Heechul.
Canadian singer Henry Lau first appeared with Super Junior in their 2007 music video “Don't Don.” The song included a violin part, which is played by Henry. A year later, he became a part of the group's sub-unit Super Junior-M.
He then left SM Entertainment 10 years later to pursue his many solo activities, including launching his own music, appearing in several variety shows, and later as a Hollywood actor in the 2019 film “A Dog's Journey.”
Chinese singer Zhoumi debuted as a member of Super Junior in 2008 with Henry Lau. He hosted several radio shows and music programs and built a name for himself in the Chinese entertainment industry.
His most recent release with Super Junior would have to be his single titled “Starry Night” with fellow member Ryeowook.
Did you know that Super Junior was the first K-pop group to have a sub-unit? In total, they have five sub-units, namely: Super Junior - K.R.Y., Super Junior - T, Super Junior-M, Super Junior-H, and Super Junior-D&E.
The first one to be established was K.R.Y. in 2006, composed of vocalists Kyuhyun, Yesung, and Ryeowook singing romantic ballads for K-drama OSTs.
With the promotion of their music in China, the boy group created a sub-unit called Super Junior-M, which stands for Mandopop.
The group, which included Hangeng, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun, Henry, and Zhoumi, became the first international music group in China that featured members of Chinese and Korean descent.
Super Junior's popularity grew with every song they released since their debut in 2005.
More than three years later, they were the first and last idol group of the second-generation era to win the Favorite Artist Korea award at the MTV Asia Awards, as the ceremony was later canceled.
In 2009, no song would ever top Super Junior's international hit “Sorry, Sorry,” which received critical and commercial success. This became a stepping stone for the idol group to reach global stardom and introduce the world of K-pop worldwide.
Since then, they've been dropping hit after hit, including “Mr. Simple,” “Bonamana,” “Superman,” “Mamacita,” and so much more.
Class is definitely in if Super Junior is around.
In 2013, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Kyuhyun, and Kangin flew to the United Kingdom and attended the prestigious university to discuss their success as a K-pop artist.
Another first for Super Junior (and K-pop) is when they were nominated and won at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards for Choice International Artist and Choice Fandom.
In 2017, Super Junior released “Lo Siento,” which is considered an incredible feat for the K-pop boy group as it ranked at Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales Chart at No. 13 and Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 2.
Super Junior also became the first foreign-language recipient of the Artist of the Year Award at the KKBOX Music Awards in Taiwan. While they are no stranger to winning at Taiwanese music awards shows, the feat proved just how much Super Junior's influence has swept country after country.
Yep, you read that right. In 2014, Super Junior became the first Korean artist to perform 100 concerts worldwide with its Super Show concert -- from South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and so much more.
In 2019, they also performed in Saudi Arabia, making them the first K-pop act to do so.
Super Junior's fans, called Everlasting Friends or ELFs, are undisputed winners of Billboard's Fan Army Face-Off for two consecutive years. The group's fandom already won in 2018 and recently defended their title in 2020.
As mentioned earlier, the members chosen for the group are all experienced actors, emcees, models, and radio hosts before their debut.
Nowadays, if they're not performing as a unit, they excel in their own fields, whether it's hosting, performing as a solo artist, or speaking with fans through their own YouTube channels.
Any ELF would know that Super Junior is not only composed of good-looking men; they're also great when it comes to crossdressing as women. For the past decade, each member (most especially Heechul) has impressed their fans with their fabulous alter egos.
There's a saying that goes, “There may be members of Super Junior who are less crazy, but there are no members who are sane,” and nothing could describe the group more aptly. Whenever the group becomes a guest in any variety show, chaos will always ensue.
Despite a few members who have come and gone, every member who bore Super Junior's name in their career will always be a member. During their 15th anniversary special, leader Leeteuk said, “Whether you add or subtract, Super Junior will always be Super Junior.”
During their 15th debut anniversary, SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man said how proud he is of what the group has achieved throughout the years in the K-pop industry. He said, “You've always worked hard. I'm proud of you. You guys are precious to me.”
The group is so close with the SM Entertainment founder that he is most likely found on speed dial, given the times the members have called him in the middle of a variety show.
Super Junior's musical styles never settled with a single genre. From bubblegum pop to contemporary RnB, this K-pop idol group knows how to produce, arrange, and create their own songs to show their wide range of styles for each comeback.
Being in the industry for so long, Super Junior members are often amazed at the array of audiences that pop in their concerts or fan meetings. Oftentimes, they'd assume their fans would be in the 20s to 30s range. However, they'd also see some who are in their teens. The reason for this? They've pioneered what it means to be an idol-to-radio and idol-to-variety personality. From morning to late-night TV shows, you'd likely encounter a Super Junior member in Korean television. That's why they're touching every demographic, from elementary-school children to grandmas.
During the pinnacle of the Hallyu Wave, SM Entertainment acts Super Junior and Girls Generation became ambassadors for Korean tourism. Remember their “S.E.O.U.L.” music video? They also branched out in other areas like UNICEF to being spokespersons for blood donation in Korea. Super Junior knows how to use their superstardom for a good cause.
Many Korean idols have cited that one of the reasons they became a performer was because of Super Junior. This includes MAMAMOO's Wheein, BTS's J-Hope, SEVENTEEN's Hoshi, 2PM's Nickhun, SHINee's Minho, EXO's Baekhyun, and so much more. This just proves that many idols have looked up to Super Junior and followed their footsteps into stardom.
On March 19, 2021, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to Twitter to praise Super Junior's song "House Party" for its timely message on maintaining precautionary measures against COVID-19.
On July 31, 2021, the music video for Super Junior's iconic hit "Mr Simple" surpassed 200 million views on YouTube, making it the group's first music video to achieve the feat.
On September 27, 2021, Super Junior won the FAN N STAR Choice Artist Award at the 2021 The Fact Music Awards after receiving 9,231,776 votes. This marks the group's fourth consecutive year of winning this award.