Super Junior’s Leeteukopened up about his struggles with promoting in Korea during a heartfelt YouTube live broadcast on November 26, 2024. The veteran idol revealed his fears about the Korean entertainment market and his desire to focus more on overseas activities, particularly in Japan.
Leeteuk: I want to have solo fanmeetings, and I keep looking at japan and overseas, I’m more comfortable there, the korean market is scary, I’m most scared of Korean, It's just that kind of feeling where you want to go where people applause. pic.twitter.com/CmLzi0XDSg
Leeteuk’s Honest Thoughts About Promoting in Korea
During the 90-minute livestream, Leeteuk discussed his future plans, including ideas for solo fan meetings and activities after Super Junior’s 20th anniversary. However, he shared that the thought of promoting solo in Korea fills him with anxiety.
After Super Junior’s 20th anniversary, there will likely be LSS stuff, too. But I also want to try holding solo fan meetings or events again. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do after the 20th anniversary. But since those are matters for the future, I can’t give you any specific details or commitments yet.
Here’s the thing, though. The reason I’m drawn to doing more activities abroad, like in Japan, is that I have this certain fear about the Korean market. It’s not recent. Even in the past, I’ve always found it a little intimidating. For instance, if I were to release a solo song and go on music shows by myself…? Just the thought of doing that gives me this feeling of rejection.
If people could simply accept and appreciate me for who I am, I’d feel more comfortable. But I worry, like, ‘What if I go out there and Koreans criticize me?’ Personally, I find Koreans the scariest. That’s why I feel more at ease focusing on concerts and performances, especially in places like Japan or other Asian countries. Performing as a group or even solo overseas feels less stressful for me.
Leeteuk clarified that he has no hard feelings toward Korea, but because of what he had experienced, he felt “uncomfortable” promoting in Korea.
It’s not that I hate Korea—I’m Korean myself, after all. But maybe because I am Korean, I find Korea a bit uncomfortable. As a singer with 20 years of experience, I feel uneasy about appearing solo on music shows in Korea. I don’t want to hear things like, ‘He’s still doing music shows?’ or whatever. That kind of perception makes me uncomfortable.
It’s different when people recognize my effort, like saying, ‘Wow, even after all these years, he has kept himself in great shape and is doing so well.’ Of course, there are people who see me positively like that. But there’s also a part of me that worries about some of them thinking, ‘He’s so old, why is he still at this?’ So I guess it’s natural for me, as a person, to want to go somewhere I feel more appreciated, regardless of what nationality I am.
Fear of Judgment and Isolation
Leeteuk admitted that past experiences have led him to isolate himself, avoiding social interactions and keeping his life low-key. He expressed a growing desire to avoid risks and live quietly.
Honestly, the thought of trying something new on my own in Korea feels really scary and daunting now. I just want to stick with what I’ve been doing well—things like hosting variety shows, broadcasts, or gigs—keeping it stable and secure. I’ve been hurt too many times in the past to just laugh things off like I used to. Now, I really want to live a quiet life. I just want people to look at me and say, ‘Oh, he’s doing OK,’ or, ‘Oh, he’s still alive,’ and leave it at that. I truly want to live quietly. It’s just so frightening.
Even today, while I was getting my makeup done, I was talking to my makeup artist and said, ‘Lately, I feel so scared. I feel like I shouldn’t do anything. I shouldn’t meet anyone. I should just go play golf and come straight home.’ And they replied, ‘Well, you don’t drink, so at least you’ve avoided one risky activity.’ I said, ‘That’s true,’ but then they mentioned, ‘But people often play golf, have meals together, drink, and socialize. Don’t you do that?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t. I either leave right after playing or go straight to my next schedule.’
They told me, ‘It feels like you’re keeping yourself too isolated. Is it because you’re too scared of what hasn’t happened yet?’ Maybe I am. Honestly, I’m terrified. The world is not an easy place to navigate, and as I get older, the fear just grows and grow. I just want to live more quietly. I don’t want to do anything else. I don’t want to meet anyone new. I guess getting older turns me into more of a coward? Yeah.
Leeteuk shared that even daily conversations with his makeup artist revealed how deeply these fears have affected him.
Fans React to Leeteuk’s Struggles
Leeteuk’s raw honesty struck a chord with fans, who showed immense support for him online. Many blamed the “toxic culture” within Korean entertainment for making him feel this way. Others praised his courage in speaking out about the pressures of fame and aging in the K-pop industry.
Leeteuk’s comments shed light on the challenges faced by long-time idols in maintaining their image while navigating the pressures of their home country’s entertainment industry.
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