Kim Heechul of Super Junior revealed his honest feelings about the group's longevity as he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut.
On the 20th, the MBC variety show "Radio Star" featured Lee Sedol, Kim Heechul, the Calm Man, and Napoli Mafia. Among them, Kim Heechul's appearance stood out. It was quite unusual for him, who has long been active as an MC in the entertainment industry, to appear as a guest. In particular, for this promotion of Super Junior's 20th anniversary album, members such as Shindong, Kyuhyun, and Eunhyuk were out and about, giving it a fresh feeling.
Kim Gu-ra teased Kim Heechul, saying, "I heard you've gained weight lately, so they're calling you Shindong." However, Kim Heechul, who has entered his mid-40s, showcased his handsome features with a wrinkle-free face.
Kim Heechul said, "I lost 5 kg compared to last year when I came out. Among those in the 'Knowing Bros' show, I was considered quite skinny. But when I met up with the members to prepare for the album after a long time, Eunhyuk was also in the 50 kg range and Leeteuk was 58 kg. So I thought I should manage my weight, refraining from drinking and working hard to lose it," showing his unique determination. He added, "I also had personal training this morning. It was really so boring," he sighed.
Yu Se-yoon was quite surprised by Kim Heechul's abstinence, being known as a lover of alcohol. Suddenly, Kim Guk-jin complimented him, saying, "He really is handsome when seen like this."
Kim Heechul, who has been a topic of conversation for his appearance since his debut, particularly during a time when male characters with long hair were rare, achieved a peak of beauty along with Lee Joon-gi. He expressed, "In my 20s, when I was told I was handsome, I thought to myself, really? Can't we talk about something else? But now, when people see me on 'Knowing Bros,' fans say it's nice to see me in my main job," he conveyed his changed feelings.
Kim Gu-ra remarked, "Well, at mid-40s, you have to manage it," as he didn't hold back from giving advice, sparking a debate with Kim Heechul.
Kim Heechul then stated that his personality has softened a bit. Kim Gu-ra responded, "Well, at mid-40s, you should mature," and once again offered unsolicited advice. Kim Heechul shared, "When I was younger, I was often called the Kim Gu-ra of Super Junior. But now, after returning for a long time, it feels really good. In the past, my irritation shortened the filming time for music videos, but now that I'm happy, I don't get angry. However, when I saw fans waiting a long time at the comeback showcase, that did make me upset. Kyuhyun and Eunhyuk seemed to feel the same about the comeback."
Kim Heechul cited Lee Soo-man as the absolute reason for the longevity of Super Junior. He noted, "Super Junior is obviously thanks to the founder, Lee Soo-man. At that time, I loved rock music, listened to only rock, went to nightclubs as an adult, and even got disciplined as a trainee in Gangwon Province. Yet Lee Soo-man said, 'He's going to be an artist. He won't cause trouble,' showing his generosity towards my wild days."
He also recounted, "So, at the beginning of my debut, I was offered the role of MC on 'Inkigayo.' At that time, my hair was really long, and they asked me to cut it. I was eating with Lee Soo-man at the time, so I snitched. Therefore, my manager said, 'Heechul will do well with his hair like that. If it doesn't look good, we will redo it.' Because it's Super Junior's 20th anniversary, I bought a really expensive wine and visited Lee Soo-man's home," he said, sharing his profound loyalty.
[Photo source] MBC variety show "Radio Star"
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