Fans To Boycott Super Junior Promotions Until Kangin And Sungmin Are Kicked Out Of The Group

Popular Korean boy group Super Junior will reportedly return as a nine-member group. According to Label SJ, members Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Siwon, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun will take part in Super Junior’s 9th album.

Members Sungmin and Kangmin will not be part of the comeback and will instead focus on individual activities, the agency added. However, this does not mean the two members have officially left Super Junior.

“We would like to make an announcement regarding Super Junior’s full group promotions that’s scheduled for the later half of this year,” the label announced on June 3. “After discussing with the members, we decided that Super Junior’s 9th full-album will include the 9 members Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Siwon, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun.”

The long-awaited comeback comes after the group's youngest member, Kyuhyun, finished his military service last month. This is also the group's first comeback after all its members have finished their mandatory military service.

“Kangin and Sungmin, who will not be participating, will greet their fans through different individual activities,” SJ added. “We are currently planning the specific date for Super Junior’s comeback. As this is the first album since all of the members have been discharged from the military, we ask for everyone’s interest and support.”

As the majority of the E.L.Fs are celebrating the comeback announcement, a group of fans has announced that they will boycott everything related to Super Junior until Kangin and Sungmin are officially removed from the group.

“We demand Kangin and Sungmin's departure... Kangin and Sungmin damage Super Junior's image as a whole. Kangin and Sungmin's departure should no longer be delayed and we agreed there needs to be stronger action taken,” the fandom stated. "We announce to indefinitely boycott Super Junior and all members' activities until the agency release a clear statement."

The fans are protesting Kangin and Sungmin for their previous controversies. Kangin was found guilty of multiple hit and runs under the influence of alcohol, as well as getting arrested for physical assaulting his girlfriend. Sungmin was criticized for mishandling the announcement and process of his marriage.

Super Junior debuted as a 12-member group in 2005. They had 13 members at the peak of their career, with two other members, Zhou Mi, and Henry, as part of its sub-unit, Super Junior-M. Their last release was "Lo Siento" in 2018.

Source: Business Times, Photo credit: Super Junior Ins