Who would’ve thought, right? Who would’ve thought that the project group created by putting together 12 very different boys would actually last 10 years?
A project group that wasn’t meant to last very long - with a rotational member system. A group that no one believed in, no one thought would do well -not the South Koreans, not even their own company. A group that was met with doubts and criticisms because of the large number and eccentric members.
But here they are now. 10 years later and the group is still strong.
No longer a project group but is now one of the most famous, most successful Korean groups in history. The biggest group -literally, as the 12 members grew even more to 13, and later 15.
It wasn’t easy. The road to 10 years had been full of bumps and holes and barriers along the way. From car accidents and near-death experiences to parents passing away; from dating scandals to marriage; from mistakes that led to controversies to fansites closing down and opposing certain members; from being neglected multiple times by the company to being treated unfairly in award ceremonies and broadcast stations; from members leaving to enlisting one-by-one in the army; from bashing and disrespect from other fandoms to unappreciation and lack of recognition from Korean netizens.
Through all these and everything in between Super Junior stood tall.
They had an unexpected surge of popularity, won #1 in music shows and achieved a rookie of the year award -none of what the company thought they could do but enough to scrap the project group concept. One of the best decisions they have done obviously was to keep the 13 membered group at that time because they kept rising from there on.
The group with the first non-Korean member, and who pioneered the system of sub-groups. The several subgroups they have all have become popular in their own ways.
They made their way from proving the doubtful South Korea wrong to being one of the front-liners of spreading Hallyu to the rest of the world. They released the song that got the whole world dancing along, and is still one of the most widely-recognized Korean pop songs in history.
And they exploded since. Consecutive chart-topping hits, locally and internationally, 64 weeks of being number one in a Taiwanese chart, multiple major awars from year-end award shows.
They write and rewrite history. Breaking the 1 million mark when it comes to total number of concert attendees; with more than 100 concerts; the first Korean group to have a solo concert in various Western countries and to win an American Teens’ Choice Award.
They have achieved all these and more. But it would be a lie to say that nothing is left to be desired.
If there is one thing Super Junior (and ELF) still needs or wants, it is not to get an all-kill in digital charts. It’s not to get another #1 in music shows nor a triple crown. It’s not even a daesang in the year-end awards.
It’s respect. Just plain and complete respect, from other fandoms, from the public, from SM Entertainment.
Because after all these years and after all the awards gained and pride brought, don’t you think we deserve at least that?
But regardless of what other people think and what other people say,
Regardless of the years that passed,
Be it another 10 years, and another, and another…
As long as they’re Super Junior,
romaincrisis
vaporwave
jacobvanloon
turnnoffyourmind
germansingergirl
kaledo-art
