Austin's Choice - KPOP : 3. Super Junior

One of the largest boy bands in the world, Super Junior is among the top bands of Korean K-pop, defining the idol genre and sweeping across Asia and to the far reaches of Europe and the USA, captivating fans with their catchy songs and spirited dance moves. The band has a powerful stage presence that manages to combine each member’s individual charisma and energy for a fluid and unified performance. Super Junior’s fame continued to spread after the band went on tours through China, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan, and headlined SMTOWN concerts in LA and Paris. In the wake of the SMTOWN concerts in particular, a surprising number of fans across the world banded together to ask for Super Junior concerts in their own hometowns. These efforts point once again to the status of the band as an international sensation.

Group Introduction

Super Junior made their debut in December 2005 with ambitions to become superstars not only as a singing group, but also as entertainers in each of their respective fields; acting, performing, MCing, music composing, modeling, etc. In addition to their activities as a group, Super Junior has also formed various subgroups to accommodate different musical genres; ‘Super Junior-K.R.Y.’, ‘Super Junior-T’, ‘Super Junior-M’, and ‘Super Junior-Happy.’ Moreover, the members of Super Junior have each made individual appearances on television and in other media outlets. Ever since releasing their first full-length album ‘Super Junior 05’ in December 2005, Super Junior has continued to produce hit songs such as ‘Twin,’ ‘Don’t Don,’ ‘Sorry Sorry,’ ‘Bonamana,’ and ‘Mr. Simple.’

- First Album Release: ‘Super Junior’ (2005)
- Super Junior Official Website: http://superjunior.smtown.com/ (Korean)

Member Profiles

• Name: Leeteuk (이특)
• Date of Birth: July 1, 1983
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Listening to music, singing, composition, piano

Not just Super Junior’s reliable leader, Leeteuk has established himself as an MC for numerous variety shows and TV programs. He has contributed greatly to spreading Super Junior’s popularity through various activities such as DJing. Starting in 2006, he began hosting the KBS radio show ‘Super Junior’s Kiss the Radio,’ which has grown to become one of the most-listened-to radio programs in the country.

• Name: Heechul (희철)
• Date of Birth: July 10, 1983
• Height: 179cm
• Blood Type: AB
• Talents & interests: Writing poems and children’s stories, playing video games

Nicknamed the ‘universal star,’ Heechul has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his talents as a singer, actor, DJ, and MC and his roles in the teen TV drama ‘Sharp 2’ (2005), and the SBS drama ‘Love You Ten Million Times’ (2009). He is seen as a truly versatile entertainer. Not only one of the main MCs for the SBS music program ‘Inkigayo’ (2007) and host of the MBC variety show ‘Radio Star’ (2010), Heechul was also the DJ of his very own radio program, ‘Kim Heechul’s Young Street,’ aired on SBS Power FM from 2010 to 2011.

• Name: Siwon (시원)
• Date of Birth: February 10, 1987
• Height: 183cm
• Blood Type: B
• Talents & interests: Watching movies, playing drums, Taekwondo, Chinese, singing, dancing, acting

Siwon’s striking looks and intense charisma add yet another compelling element to Super Junior’s charm. In recent years, Siwon has been drawing attention as a rising new actor (not just for his acting skills, but also thanks to his gorgeous face). After his appearance in the KBS drama ‘Eighteen, Twenty-Nine’ (2005), he was cast in the SBS drama ‘Oh My Lady!’ (2010), ‘Atena: Goddess of War’ (2010), and the KBS drama ‘Poseidon’ (2011). He has also appeared in various advertisements and fashion shows.

• Name: Yesung (예성)
• Date of Birth: August 24, 1984
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: AB
• Talents & interests: Singing, listening to music, playing video games, watching movies, reading, sports

Yesung has wide fan appeal thanks to his versatile skills—performing upbeat dance moves onstage, singing heartfelt tracks on OSTs, and revealing his off-the-wall charms on variety shows. Yesung has starred in the musicals ‘South Korean Mountain Fortress’ (2009), ‘Honggildong’ (2010), and ‘Spamalot’ (2010) and has recorded the song ‘It Has to be You’ for the KBS drama ‘Cinderella’s Sister’ (2010) and the track ‘Waiting for You’ for the SBS drama ‘Paradise Ranch’ (2011).

• Name: Shindong (신동)
• Date of Birth: September 28, 1985
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Making various facial expressions, making jokes, dancing

Shindong is always bursting with cheerful energy. Known as the former MC of the MBC children’s program ‘BoBoBo’ (2007-2009), he has also gained recognition for his acting skills through supporting roles in the KBS drama ‘Single Dad in Love’ (2008) and in the SBS drama ‘Dr. Champ’ (2010). Since 2008, he has hosted the MBC radio program ‘Stop the Boring Time’ for which he won the Radio Award at the 2009 MBC Drama Awards. Shindong was honored again for his talents in 2010 when he received the New Star Award at the SBS Entertainment Awards. Active onscreen and in various media outlets, Shindong attracts fans of all ages.

• Name: Sungmin (성민)
• Date of Birth: January 1, 1986
• Height: 175cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Watching movies, playing musical instruments, Chinese martial arts, acting

Singing, acting, sports—you name it! There is nothing that this multifaceted member of Super Junior can’t do. In 2009, Sungmin appeared in the MBC variety show ‘Oppa Band’ and captivated audiences with his superb guitar skills and stunning looks. Following his success onscreen, he was cast in the KBS drama ‘President’ (2010). Despite his young age, Sungmin is a seasoned professional on the musical stage, playing the main lead in musicals ‘Akilla’ (2009), ‘Honggildong’ (2010), and ‘Jack the Ripper’ (2011).

• Name: Eunhyuk (은혁)
• Date of Birth: April 4, 1986
• Height: 176cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Sports, listening to music, dancing

A phenomenal dancer, Eunhyuk puts the passion into the bands’ choreography with striking dance movements that are as powerful as they are fluid. Eunyhuk, along with Leeteuk, co-hosted the KBS radio show ‘Super Junior’s Kiss the Radio,’ and is loved by fans all over the world for the wit he let loose on SBS variety shows ‘Strong Heart’ and ‘Star King.’

• Name: Donghae (동해)
• Date of Birth: October 15, 1986
• Height: 175cm
• Blood Type: A
• Hobbies & Talents: Sports, watching movies, dancing, singing

Donghae enjoyed a fresh burst of popularity among Taiwanese fans after appearing in the music videos of Taiwanese singers Ariel Lin and Zhang Liyin and being cast as one of the main characters of the Taiwanese drama ‘Extravagant Challenge’ (2011) along with fellow band member Siwon. In 2010, he starred in the SBS drama ‘It’s Okay, Daddy’s Daughter’ and contributed to the drama’s OST, receiving recognition for his music composition skills.

• Name: Ryeowook (려욱)
• Date of Birth: June 21, 1987
• Height: 173cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Singing, music composition

Ryeowook has contributed greatly to the spread of Super Junior’s popularity in China, Taiwan, and Japan as a regular member of the band’s two subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M. Beloved for his exquisite vocals, Ryeowoook has contributed to several drama OSTs, recording solo track ‘Smile Again’ for the MBC drama ‘My Sweet Home’ and ‘If You Love Me More’ for the KBS drama ‘Spy MyeongWol’. In 2011, he was cast as the lead in the musical ‘Temptation of Wolves’ and showed a whole new side of himself to his adoring public.

• Name: Kyuhyun (규현)
• Date of Birth: February 3, 1988
• Height: 180cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Singing

Kyuhyun is a notable singer with a sweet and tender voice. He has released a number of solo songs that have been used as main theme songs for such popular TV dramas ((‘Pasta’ (MBC), ‘Baker King, Kum Tak Goo’ (KBS) and ‘President’ (KBS)). In 2010, he played the role of D’Artagnan in the musical ‘The Three Musketeers’ and in 2011, he appeared on the KBS variety show ‘Immortal Classics 2.’ With each new appearance, Kyuhun received a fresh wave of love and acclaim from audiences everywhere.

Super Junior’s Official Fan Club

E.L.F
E.L.F is the name of Super Junior’s official fan club. It is the acronym for ‘Ever Lasting Friends’ and reflects the fans’ aspirations to become lifetime friends with each other and with their followers.

Discography (List of Albums)

Discography (List of Albums)

2005	December	‘Super Junior 05’ (1st full-length album)
2006	June	‘U’ (Single)
2007	September	‘Don’t Don’ (Full-length album)
2009	March	‘Sorry Sorry’ (Full-length album)
2010	May	‘Bonamana’ (Full-length album)
2011	August	Mr. Simple (Full-length album)

Awards

Awards

2006	Thailand’s Channel [V] Countdown: #1 on the International Charts for 5 consecutive weeks (‘Miracle’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song - Triple Crown Award (‘U’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘Dancing Out’) 13th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards: Best Male Group Award M.net KM Music Festival: Best New Group Award 16th Seoul Music Awards: Newcomer Award 21st Golden Disk Awards: Newcomer Award SBS Song Awards: Newcomer Award
2007	SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘Don’t Don’) Hot Tracks Album Sales Charts (2007): #1 (2nd full-length album ‘Don’t Don’) 14th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards: Best Male Dance Artists Award M.net KM Music Festival: Artist of the Year Award, Netizen Popularity Award, Mobile Popularity Award 15th Korean Popular Entertainment Awards: New Generation Top Artist Award Golden Disk Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Popularity Award 2nd Thailand SEED Awards: Asia’s Best Newcomer Award China Tencent Stars Magnificent Ceremony: Asia’s Artist of the Year Award
2008	17th Seoul Music Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Mobile Popularity Award MTV Asia Awards: Favorite Artist of Korea Award Chinese Year-end Music Awards: Best Group Award (‘Super Junior-M’)
2009	KBS Music Bank: #1 on March-April Charts (‘Sorry Sorry’) M.net M Countdown: #1 for 2 consecutive weeks (‘Sorry Sorry’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song - Triple Crown Award (‘Sorry Sorry’) Thailand’s Channel [V] Countdown Asian Charts: Set record of being #1 for 8 consecutive weeks (3rd week of April – 1st week of June) Taiwan’s online music website, KKBOX: #1 for 36 weeks on the ‘Korea/Japan Single Top 100 Charts’ Taiwan’s online music website, Ezpeer: #1 for 34 consecutive weeks Thailand’s Channel [V]: #1 on Asian Top 50 Year End 2009 Taiwan’s Hit FM: #1 on 2009 Top 100 Singles Chart KBS Music Bank: #1 on K-Chart (‘It’s You’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘It’s You’) Golden Disk Awards: Disk Daesang & Bonsang awards, Samsung YEPP Popularity Award Melon Music Awards: Top 10 Bonsang Award
2010	19th High1 Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award, Hallyu Special Award, Popularity Award Korean Popular Culture and Art Awards: Minister Commendation for Culture and Tourism KBS Music Bank: #1 for 3 consecutive weeks (‘BONAMANA’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song – Triple Crown Award (‘BONAMANA’) Taiwan’s online music website, KKBOX: #1 for 63 consecutive weeks (‘BONAMANA’) KBS Music Bank: #1 on K-Chart (‘No Other’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘No Other’) Golden Disk Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Asian Popularity Award Philippine ASAP Choice Viewers Awards: Best K-Pop Artist Award Melon Music Awards: Netizen Popularity Battle Award
2011	GAOn Chart Awards: Top Selling Album of 2010 1st Taiwan HIT FM Awards: Top Selling Korean/Japanese Album

Other Activities

Other Activities

2006	5th Pattaya Music Festival: Representative of Korea ‘Ivy Club’ school uniform brand advertising model ‘NII’ casual wear model
2007	1677 Collect Call advertising model Blood donation publicity ambassador ‘Pepsi Cola’ advertising model in China ‘OPPO’ mobile phone brand advertising model in China Released Super Junior’s debut film ‘Attack on the Pin-Up Boys’
2008	Appointed as goodwill ambassadors for the 2008 Korea and Thailand 50th Anniversary Sunkist Sweety Ade advertising model Chinese postage stamps model
2009	Kyochon Chicken advertising model
2010	Interviewed on CNN’s Talk Asia
2011	Released 3D movie from their third Asia tour ‘Super Show 3 3D’ Japanese convenience store franchise ‘CircleKSunkus’ model Appointed as Hansik (Korean food) publicity ambassadors Appointed as ‘2011 Seoul Summer Sale’ publicity ambassadors Appointed as ambassadors for tourism in Korea through the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)