Beginner’s guide: Things you need to know about Super Junior

MANILA, Philippines — How much do you know about Super Junior?

Five years after their last concert in the Philippines, K-pop group Super Junior is returning to Manila for the SUPER SHOW 7 world tour on Saturday, June 30

As their concert is drawing near, Rappler compiled some of the things you should know about the Korean group: 

How Super Junior got its name

The Korean boy group started when talent agency S.M. Entertainment put together 12 members after several casting auditions held in South Korea and other Asian countries back 2005.

According to Baidu, the group was rumored to debut as O.V.E.R., acronym for “Obey the Voice for Each Rhythm, but eventually came out as “Super Junior 05” on their first public appearance.

As young trainees in their agency, they are referred to as “juniors.” “Super” is there because they’re the best among the newbies, hence “Super Junior.”

But why “05”? Here’s why:

Members are supposed to ‘graduate’

The original 12-member group was called Super Junior 05 since they were formed in 2005. 

The original plan was to set up a “graduation system” but the idea was scrapped “because the fans go so attached with the original members,” according to Koreaboo

The “graduation system” is a way of managing members of a group so that older members can “graduate” and be replaced by new ones. Members of K-pop groups using the graduation system are not bound with strict contract and are free to leave anytime they wish to.

But since the group was a hit with fans, S.M. Entertainment decided to dropped the “05” from the group’s name so older members could stay on.

Come and go

Super Junior’s original members include Kibum, Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Ryeowok, Siwon, Donghae, Kang-in, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Sungmin, and Han Geng, the only Chinese member in the group.

At its peak, the group had 13 members when Kyuhyun was added to the group in 2006.

In 2009, at the height of the popularity of their single “Sorry, Sorry,” Kibum and Kang-in left the group due to personal reasons. Han Geng followed soon after in 2011.

The group made their comeback in 2017 after a 2-year hiatus, where most of its member served their mandatory South Korean Military training.

Currently, the group has 7 active members — Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Siwon, and Donghae – whom fans from the Philippines are excited to meet during their June concert.

Achievements

With 8 albums, the group has undeniably become a legend in the K-pop industry.

In their 13 years of existence, they have gathered a whopping 161 wins out of 215 nominations in different award-giving bodies, including 18 awards from the prestigious Golden Disc Award.

Super Junior won their first award with their song “U“ in 2006.

Super Junior also became the first Asian artist to win the Best International Artist during the 2015 Teen Choice Award.

Impact in the Philippines

Super Junior’s “Sorry, Sorry” made the biggest impact among Filipino “Ever Lasting Fans” (ELFs) and it easily became a hit when it was released in the Philippines in 2009

The World-renowned Cebu Dancing Inmates even made a dance cover which has now over 7 million views. The video caught the attention of Super Junior members themselves.

Popularly known as the “King of Hallyu Wave,” Super Junior first came to Manila with their signature Super Show in 2010. Their last concert in Manila in 2013 gathered more than 10,000 excited fans at the Mall of Asia Arena

With their upcoming concert, ELFs can’t help but be thrilled especially with the boy group’s newest album, Replay. – Rappler.com