Recently, Super Junior’s Heechul expressed his gratitude to Lee Soo Man, the founder and former executive producer of SM Entertainment.
On August 20, Heechul appeared on MBC’s Radio Star and revealed that Lee Soo Man played a significant role in his debut and career in the industry.
If it weren’t for Mr. Lee Soo Man, I wouldn’t have been able to debut. I loved rock, so I listened to rock music all day and went to nightclubs when I was twenty.
— Heechul
Heechul admitted that he wasn’t the easiest trainee to work with and confessed that even when suspended from practice and forced to write a letter of reflection, he would write, “I don’t know what I did wrong.”
He added, “If it were JYP, I would have been fired immediately.” But Lee Soo Man believed in him, saying, “Heechul will become an artist. He’s not the type of kid who’d cause trouble.”
He also shared an episode in which he was offered a one-day position as an MC for a music broadcast. At that time, he had long, dyed hair, and the production team reportedly requested that he style it neatly.
When Heechul heard this, he was with Lee Soo Man, who asked if something was bothering him. When Heechul explained the situation, Lee Soo Man told his manager, “Ask the production team. Heechul would do well with his hair like this. But if they don’t like that, we’ll take action.”
And with that, Heechul took on the role while maintaining his style.
Host Kim Gura expressed his surprise, stating, “Where can you find someone like that?”
This year is Super Junior’s 20th anniversary, so I bought some expensive wine and went to his house to thank him.
— Heechul
