Six years, 72 months, 2,191 days, 52,584 hours, 3,155,040 minutes and 189,302,400 seconds.That’s how long since Super Junior stayed in the limelight since they debuted on SBS Inkigayo last November 6, 2011. Now let’s see what’s the secret behind the strength and courage that pursued Super Junior oppas to stay this long in the music industry for the past 6 glorious years of making their fans not only in Asia but to the whole world happy.

Well, making a group popular in the whole Asia is a hard thing to do. It’s a big challenge for the members and to the whole group. But despite of being how hard it is, Super Junior made it. They tried all their best, gave all that they can and sacrificed all they can sacrifice. There comes a point that some members are getting sick but they still perform on the stage with their fans waiting for them. That’s how dedicated Super Junior is. They are not just a group with guts and skills but they also have a wonderful heart that captured all the Ever Lasting Friends that are always staying on their side.

Obviously, I am one of those loving ELFs around the whole wide world who tires our best to support and show our everlasting love to our idols. We want to make them happy all the time. We are buying their albums overseas to support the counting in the local music charts in Korea. We are actively participating in online voting and we are trying our best to fill up every concert stages that they are in with a sapphire blue sea. Those simple things are the only thing that we can do for them. We owe a lot to them because Super Junior oppas changed our perspectives. They taught us how to be strong and to love. We are happy seeing them smiling and laughing but, 6 years of Super Junior is not all about triumphs. They also suffered from some issues and with very big challenges. 

Being involved in accidents is not a simple challenge but Super Junior had this. First, back 2006, Heechul was involved in a car accident and made him stay in the hospital quite long. Then April 2007, riding in a van way back to their dorm, Leeteuk,Shindong,Eunhyuk and Kyuhyun had a seious car accident. Fortunately, Shindong and Eunhyuk only had minor injuries but Leeteuk and Kyuhyun had severe cuts and wounds. Leeteuk had quite numerous stitches on his face due to that acident and Kyuhyun stayed 6 days in ICU because he broke his ribs. Kyuhyun almost lost his precious life because of this accident. This kind of problems are very hard to take, especially with ELFs. But with prayer and love of God, our oppas surpassed this challenged and did a comeback once again with their 2nd album. But another issue came up. It’s an issue regarding SM Ent putting up another member to Super Junior. ELFs saw Henry on the MV of Don’t Don and got swayed by this issue. That’s why there’s an Only 13 group formed in Korea. But as the time goes by, that issue has never been true but Henry together, with Zhou Mi were added to the sub-group Super Junior M which penetrates in Taiwan and in Mainland China.

After those issues and challenges, March 2009, Super Junior did a comeback once again with their studio album, Sorry,Sorry that made them very popular in Asia and made their career into the full blast! 2009 has been a great year with them. But here, once again challenges to the group came up. Kibum is not actively participating in the group’s activities because he wants to pursue his acting career. On the later part of 2009, Kangin was involved in an issue regarding driving under the influence of alcohol which is strictly prohibited. Also Hangeng filed a lawsuit against SM Ent that made him leave the company.But with all of these challenges, they still made it to have the Daesang Disk Award on the 24th Golden Disk Awards last 2009 with their album, Sorry, Sorry.

But on early 2010, Kangin decided to enter the army and left the group with 10 active members. Despite of that Super Junior still did a comeback with their 4th studio album, Bonamana and had their 3rd Asia Concert tour,Super Show 3.Then August this year, while the fans are eagerly waiting, they had a comeback with their 5th and latest studio album, Mr. Simple but while the promotions are on going, Heechul decided to undergo the military training that will last for 2 years. This made not only our beloved leader Leeteuk cried so hard together with his dongsaengs but also his fans, ELFs. This thing shocked us a lot but we cannot do anything about this. It’s his decision. The only thing that we can do is wait for him. But we are proud with his decision. And now, they are about to start their 4th Concert. This time not only an Asia Concert Tour but it will be a Worldwide Concert Tour. Another great achievement for our oppas. But there are still issues surrounding our beloved fandom. The issue about disbanding because The members are going to army. We don’t want this to happen. That’s why we are really trying our very best to support them all the time and love them with all of our hearts.

No matter what issues or challenges are coming up, Super Junior oppas were born to be strong enough to face these kind of challenges. Together with their loving fans, they continue to hope for the best and do all they can.

“You do not need to be an ELF from the very beginning. You just need to be an ELF until the very end.” - Choi Siwon

This quote continues on reverberating on my mind. I am holding this because ever since I entered this fandom, I promised to believe.

Thank You Super Junior for the 6 years that you contributed to our lives. Thank you for all the things that you did to us. We are thanking God that we came to know you. Please stay strong and we will go beyond 6 years .

I love you oppas. We love you oppas. Until the next time. Until to your nth anniversary. Once again thank you. We will together face the next years with each other. With our love. ♥