While Sungmin (성민) is still a member of Super Junior (슈퍼주니어), the idol hasn’t participated in the group’s activities since 2015 because of the backlash he received for getting married. After years of silence, the 39-year-old finally opened up about the emotional rollercoaster he’s been through.
The singer recently appeared alongside his wife, actress Kim Sa-Eun (김사은), and 1-year-old son, Doyoon (도윤), on the special Chuseok episode of KBS2’s “The Return Of Superman”. During the show, Sungmin spoke candidly about his career and what he’s been up to while on hiatus from Super Junior. If you didn’t know, the singer hasn’t participated in his group’s activities in over a decade, following his marriage announcement in 2014.
The marriage announcement sparked outrage among Super Junior fans, who protested against him and called for his departure from Super Junior. While Sungmin has yet to leave the group, he was forced into a hiatus. In the past few years, the singer has focused on his solo career, debuting his solo album in 2019 and as a trot singer in 2023. After 10 years of marriage, he and Kim Sa-eun welcomed their firstborn in September 2024.
While the criticism has mellowed over the years, many Super Junior fans still oppose him rejoining the group. Speaking on the hardships he faced, Sungmin said, “I’ve never confided my feelings to anyone around me. Since I’m the first idol to get married, I worried a lot about how to tell my fans at first because I thought they would be surprised. As rumours and articles started to spread, I couldn’t respond.”
He continued, “As the rumours grew, I saw countless malicious comments. It felt like people were cursing me and looking at me negatively. I couldn’t say anything and just stayed home. I wanted to continue singing, but I was scared that I would gradually lose my place.” Sungmin said that his decision to marry Kim Sa-Eun was out of love, but it sadly cost him his career. He also expressed guilt towards his wife for having to support him during his hiatus.
However, Kim Sa-Eun consoled the star, saying she feels more sorry for her husband because she believed she caused him so much harm with their marriage. Thankfully, Sungmin had built more courage over the years to rebuild his singing career. He also said he wants to continue performing to make his son proud, adding, “I hope the day comes when Doyoon grows up and tells me I look cool on stage.”
We’re glad to see Sungmin back in the music industry, doing what he does best. As for rejoining Super Junior, perhaps there’s still a chance. In the meantime, check out the clip of Sungmin on “The Return Of Superman”:
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Source: Newsis
