It is very rare for K-pop idols to speak out about the darker side of the industry. Those who have bravely shared their experiences are usually the ones who are no longer active in the entertainment business. It was certainly a surprise when Super Junior (슈퍼주니어)’s leader, Leeteuk (이특), who is still active, opened up about the hardships he endured as an idol.
During the latest live broadcast on his official YouTube channel, the singer talked about Super Junior’s subunit L.S.S. (consisting of himself, Shindong, and Siwon). At one point during the livestream, he explained the reason why he prefers to promote his projects outside of Korea. Here’s what he said:
While chatting with fans, Leeteuk mentioned upcoming projects apart from Super Junior’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Although he couldn’t provide specific details about those solo and group projects just yet, he did reveal that he’d rather promote them outside of Korea and prefers doing more activities abroad. “I have this certain fear about the Korean market. It’s not recent. Even in the past, I’ve always found it a little intimidating. For instance, if I were to release a solo song and appear on music shows by myself, just the thought of doing that gives me this feeling of rejection,” he said.
The K-pop icon expressed that Koreans can be ruthless when it comes to criticism and that he’d feel more comfortable if fans were more accepting of idols as they are. “That’s why I feel more at ease focusing on concerts and performances, especially in places like Japan or other Asian countries. Performing as a group or even solo overseas feels less stressful for me,” he added. Despite the hardships he has faced, the 41-year-old clarified that he holds no hard feelings towards Koreans, only that he developed this fear after two decades in the industry. He elaborated that it’s natural for him to seek out places where he feels more appreciated as an artist.
The “Sorry, Sorry” singer’s feelings are entirely valid, as there have been many cases of idols leaving their groups and receiving immense backlash over even the most trivial matters. Another topic Leeteuk discussed during the livestream was his desire to live a quieter life. “Now, I really want to live a quiet life. I just want people to look at me and say, ‘Oh, he’s doing OK,’ or, ‘Oh, he’s still alive,’ and leave it at that. I just want to live more quietly. I don’t want to do anything else. I don’t want to meet anyone new. I guess getting older turns me into more of a coward?” he said.
After posting the broadcast on his YouTube channel, many fans sympathised with Leeteuk, saying it is unfortunate that he doesn’t feel comfortable performing and working in his home country. Others expressed their appreciation for him being honest about his feelings. We hope things will turn out for the better for the Super Junior member.
Here’s a snippet of Leeteuk opening up about his experience:
@suddenstorm88 How can i trust @SMTOWN will support Seunghan solo? i bet they will sabotage it! #smtown #leeteuk #seunghan #kpop
