- Diverse attempts and endless challenges, Super Junior and Sports Khans have many similarities.
- Separate or together, they show off their hidden charms and individual strengths to the public through their unit activities.
Sports Khan which has been receiving readers’ attention since the start has met its 6th year anniversary. To celebrate its anniversary, has combined with another company Kyunghyang Shinmun and changed its name to . When which went through its ups and downs for the last 6 years was first published in 2005, the group that was also born in the same year was Super Junior who was rejuvenated by recent diverse unit activities. We have examined Super Junior’s yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Recently, Super Junior was chosen as the most popular Korean singers in a survey conducted by Spain’s TV Azteca. Also, England’s BBC acknowledged Super Junior as the icon noted for creating Hallyu effect. In Asia, including China and Taiwan, they are in the top that their popularity needs no explanation. These are achievements that they have earned in just 5 years. They have contradicted a popular belief that an idol group will break up after working together for 5 years. They are in their 6th year and became the best idol group by taking on diverse challenges and attempts.
The nucleus of Hallyu= Various records that Super Junior haa achieved confirm their path as a super star in overseas market. Earlier this year, they showed off their power when they held a concert in Japan gathering the largest number of audiences as a Korean group who never debuted in Japan. For the 3 days that they performed, there were over 36,000 audiences. Because of their popularity, they were chosen as the CF model for a famous Japanese convenience store, Circle K Sunkus, even though they never officially debuted in Japan. A rep for Circle K Sunkus explained, “it’s because they are actively working in all over Asia as multi-talented entertainers and are receiving huge popularity in Japan.
Recently, they held their own concert in Vietnam boasting the largest scale concert ever for Vietnam with many famous celebrities attending the concert. Their record sales are also unrivaled. “Sorry Sorry” which was released in 2009 was chosen by Thailand’s Channel V as 2009 Asia best popular song. They also set the record on various music charts in Asia when their song was number one for 36 weeks in Taiwan’s biggest online music website, KKBOX chart and was number one on ezpeer+ chart for 34 weeks. Their fourth album Miinah which was released last year also was number one on KKBOX for 49 weeks consecutively. Members Siwon and Donghae were cast as the male leads in Taiwan’s popular drama < Extravagant Challenge>.
It is expected that their exploration of the world market will go beyond Asia to Europe with SM Entertainment holding SM Town concert in Paris next month. It is the same situation with South American which is a new market. Earlier this year, in a survey conducted by Brazil’s Rede TV, Super Junior was chosen as the number one Korean singer who should come to Brazil. Looking at their popularity and recognition, they are like the nucleus of Hallyu.
They especially became unrivaled in China, because of their localization method with singing in Chinese and having members who speak Chinese. Also, their simple yet addicting songs with strong tempos and familiar choreography worked to expand their popularity.
Separate or together= When you look at their achievements in overseas, you feel as if their status is devalued in Korea. But it does not mean that their activities in Korea are lagging. Their third album “Sorry Sorry” which was released in 2009 sold over 250,000 copies and they received Golden Disk Awards Daesang. Miinah which was released last year also had the highest number of sales of the year.
Even though there were some changes in the group when they passed their 5 year mark with 13 members being reduced to 10 members, Super Junior still has the most number of members for an idol group. When they first debuted, it was unprecedented for a group to have that many members. It worked to their disadvantage. Because there were so many of them, it was difficult for each member to be recognized by the public and there was unstableness in their organization. However, they changed their weakness to their strength by trying unit activities. It also brought a wind of change to the gayo market. Their unit activities with the name “separate or together” combined members who had diverse characteristics and strengths to form project groups and demonstrated new charms. The whole group would dance a grand choreography while a few members would form a team to sing a ballad. Super Junior K.R.Y. which is made up of Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung who have great singing skills held their own concerts in Japan as the ballad unit. Super Junior-T demonstrated the genre of trot for the first time as an idol group. Super Junior-Happy showed off bright and fun music and Super Junior-M achieved the grand slams in Chinese music awards. Their endless unit activities highlight freshness and stimulate the public’s curiosity.
Each member’s activities are in various genres including acting, MC, DJ, comedy, model and musical. They are more like entertainers than an idol group. Leader Leeteuk and Heechul are being considered as the next generation of MCs who would follow in the steps of Yoo Jaesuk and Kang Hodong. Choi Siwon who had a tag attached to him of being an idol actor was acknowledged for his potential as an actor when he received good reviews for his performance in .
Congratulatory messages
Hello. This is Super Junior’s leader Leeteuk.
First, I sincerely congratulate you on your 6th year anniversary of as well as becoming . We Super Junior also met our 6th year anniversary of our debut. We are really happy that we are celebrating our 6th year anniversary with which has young sensibility and passion. I wish that will receive endless love from readers. I, Leeteuk will also show many of my good sides through . I love you, .
Hello, this is Super Juni~or’s Shindong.
Congratulations on ’s 6th year anniversary which has caught Korean readers’ attention. Since you are being reborn from to , please give us many fun and informative news. I hope you flourish. Please love Super Junior again in 2011. fighting.
Source: SportsKhan
Translated by Minnie @ SUJUISM.BLOGSPOT.COM
