Forced To Go On Hiatus: Popular Boy Group Member Breaks His Silence About His 10-Year Absence From The Industry

Super Junior’s Sungmin recently broke his decade-long silence, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster he has been through since his sudden marriage announcement in 2014.

On October 7, KST, the singer appeared as a guest on KBS2’s The Return of Superman and talked candidly about the most controversial period of his idol career.

I never talked about my true feelings, not even to people close to me,” Sungmin confessed, adding that he was extremely worried about how his fans would react to the news of his marriage, as he was one of the earliest idols to get married. He recalled, “I was worried about how to tell my fans, thinking they might be shocked. But rumors and articles started spreading, and I didn’t know how to respond.

— Sungmin

The idol gradually withdrew from the public eye as backlash grew over time. However, Sungmin admitted that the situation had rendered him completely helpless.

I saw countless hateful comments. It felt like people were criticizing me and looking at me negatively. I couldn’t say anything and just stayed at home. I was scared because singing was the only thing I knew how to do and it felt like I was losing my place more and more.

— Sungmin

Sungmin said that though his marriage to actress Kim Sa Eun was a decision made from love, it cost him his career. He maintained his distance from group activities for nearly a decade, though he never officially left the lineup. This left him at a tricky crossroads, making it difficult to rebuild his artistic identity. The idol also expressed his guilt toward his wife, who had to become the primary breadwinner of the family.

However, Kim Sae Eun, who also appeared in the episode, said that Sungmin suffered more than she did because of the marriage. “I always felt sorry, thinking I was the one who caused him harm,” she confessed.

However, after becoming a proud father of a son, Sungmin said he found the courage to start his journey again to reconnect with the stage. He transitioned into the trot genre, and though he struggled at first, he admitted that he spent four years training under the tutelage of trot veteran Lee Ho Seop. Sungmin also talked about his ambition as a singer, stating that he just wanted to make his son proud.

I hope the day comes when Doyoon grows up and tells me I look cool on stage. Although I’m a singer with 20 years of experience, I’m starting fresh as a rookie trot singer. I hope people won’t hate me too much, and instead look kindly on me and give me lots of love.

— Sungmin

Sungmin’s raw honesty about the tumultuous period of his career has left a deep impression on viewers, reflecting the whimsical cruelty of the idol life and Sungmin’s quiet strength in daring to start anew.