Kim Junmyeon Matters; Suho Matters
As I was cleaning up my 400ishGB worth of EXO vids/music/pics that I accumulated through 3.5 years, I ran down memory lane. Ā Randomly, I chose to rewatch EXOās Naver Stardust interview from the Call Me Baby comeback. Ā Partnered with a nasty comment, about Suho, I had read the other day, it made me reanalyze a few things. Ā In every kpop group, thereās inside jokes, which started out as harmless little teases but escalated into running fandom jokes. Ā
āSuho, youāre really handsome. Ā But when you smile you are so ugly.ā
Really funny initially. Ā āKyungsoo, such savage!ā I believe even Suho, himself, genuinely laughed at the tease but then the fandom kept following suit and repeating it as a meme. Ā I donāt know about you but if someone keeps telling me Iām ugly or not as attractive when I smile, my brain will automatically program me to not smile as much or at all anymore.
And the thing is, I canāt comprehend why you guys think Suho is ugly or anyone is ugly when they smile. Ā Smiles are such unique and honest expressions of happiness. Ā How do you simply taint such a positive attribute? Ā Suhoās lips may not curl like a kittenās, like Chenās, his teeth may not sparkle, like Chanyeols, eyes may not twinkle like Luhanās, but I think his smile is gorgeous and so perfectly fitting for Suho. Ā It is unpretentious and inviting, with an ounce of shyness and awkwardness. Ā His contagious laughter brings me an immense amount of joy that I canāt help but smile too. Ā
Watch this cut of Naver Stardust Rolling Paper Segment to see and hear for yourself:
āSuho is such an ugly crier.ā
This one started because of EXOās first ever music awards win during Wolf and even became one of the most searched keywords in Korea. Ā Sometimes, I think the EXO members tease Suho about it because itās just kinda awkward to stand next to your friend, whoās crying - you donāt know how to comfort them and such. Ā But sigh I wonder what the receiver of the teasing feelsā¦are youā¦supposed to try to look photogenic when youāre crying and expressing your heartfelt gratitude toward people and things that helped you fulfill your dreams? Ā I think unless youāre an actor filming a movie or drama or w/e, looking pretty while crying doesnāt ever cross your mindā¦because crying, smiling, laughing are emotions that are meant to come from the heart.
And now here, something I saw a lot in previous years, that I saw again a few days ago while browsing YouTube videos. Ā It basically blamed Suho for KrisLuTaoās leave, comparing it to how heroic ZE:Aās Lee Hoo had threatened Star Empire for mistreating his members.
Please repeat after me: It was not Suhoās fault that Kris, Luhan, Tao left EXO.
But, as the leader, he took three bullets for the team. Ā I remember him getting so, so, so much hate during Krisās leave. Ā Iām going to be honest and say, a small part of me kept going, āDo something Suho. Ā Youāre the leader! Ā You need to fix this. Ā Youāre supposed to protect them. Ā Thatās your job! Ā Go against the company. Ā Threaten them. Ā Flip tables. Ā FLIP THE TABLES. Ā Bring Kris back. Ā Bring him back. Ā I want him back!ā
Did we not think Suho didnāt want him back? Ā Did we not think that the company hounded Suho for answers or strictly warned him to calm the others down?
I think that though he didnāt show it, he took the memberās leaving the hardest.
Kris - former leader of EXO-M. Ā Whenever Suho and him reunited, there was a sense of relief and joy from Suho as if weight suddenly lifted off his shoulders because he didnāt need to carry the team alone anymore. Ā With the departure of Kris, he had to not only carry the 11 members alone, but also the entirety of the fandom, who were all too shock at the slogan āWe are Oneā that was no longer āWe are Oneā but instead, began to divide into two, with 95% of them standing by Kris.
When we blame Suho, we stop viewing him as a human with legitimate emotions, needs, and dreams, but as a steel robot, created with the sole purpose to serve EXO and EXO-Ls.
Did we not ever wonder if was he quite possibly upset that his partner didnāt discuss the situation with him? Ā Did it never cross our minds that having the first ever concert, he could call his own after seven years was like a dream to him, that seemed to fall from his grasps even though he could taste it with the tip of his tongue?
Did we not see him stand alone on stage, trying so, so very hard to smile and keep it together even though he was falling apart? Ā He looked handsome and cool smiling like that, didnāt he? Ā But that was the one time, I couldnāt smile along with him. Ā
Luhan - one of the older hyungs of the group. Ā Suho openly credits and thanks him for always taking good care of the younger members with him.
Did we not think Suho was silently agreeing and self-blaming for not being able to stop his team from falling apart, or not able to protect his brothers through harsh conditions?
Tao ā this one. Ā I worried about Suho a lot during this era, where he became such an expert in masking away any sadness he felt. Ā I think this one, Suho knew way before everyone else did, even before Tao, himself knew. Ā And I think, he let him go, even though he didnāt want to. Ā If you even follow EXO over the years, in the slightest, you knew Tao and Suho shared a strong bond, incomparable and irreplaceable. Ā Tao always leaned on Suho. Ā āSuho Ummaā Ā āSuho Umma, I love you!ā Ā But just as much as Tao leaned on Suho, Suho leaned on Tao because Tao often showered his hyung with undying love, support, and gratitude. Ā Iām not saying the others donāt respect their leader, but they often ridicule and tease him. Ā Of course, I donāt think itās bullying or by any means disrespectful because we all play around and poke fun of people we are closest and most comfortable with. Ā Itās just that when it gets excessive, the person, on the receiving end of these jokes, will eventually begin to believe such words.
āI donāt like Suho. Ā Heās so fake.ā
Ah, I guess you are right. Ā Because as an idol, who is really 100% real in front of the camera? Ā The things we see through our computer/television screens are mere highlight reels of a personās life. Ā Also, how is he supposed to be ārealā when yaāll are hounding him about how ugly he looks when heās genuinely expressing his emotions? Ā Tao was the realest member, spurting whatever the heck he felt and thought, and look what we did to him. As the leader, Suho has to fake he is okay, that he is strong and firm on his words, even if the tips of his toes tremble like earthquakes.
He takes his career ā seven years of blood and sweat training & four years in public eye, taking bullets every time a problem arises, nurturing (mothering) eleven members he has adopted as his own children, and humoring EXO-Ls so, so seriously. Ā He literally has playing the role of the guardian and protecting everyone but himself.
Suho hardly ever lets his guard down. Ā He wonāt allow himself to fall apart, fearing that once he falls, a domino effect will occur. Ā And to be honest, I think it may if we lose him because Suho is truly a rock to EXO. Ā So even if you donāt like him - because the purpose of this post isnāt to force everyone to love him or become a Suho stan, even if you think he isnāt attractive or if you still think he failed or could have done better during the departure of the three membersā¦please learn to appreciate our leader. Ā Cheer him on a little more when you see him falter. Ā Laugh at his jokes once in a while even if you think theyāre dorky. Ā Because we do only have one Suho, leader and guardian of EXO. Ā Ā
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