Twitter /  GaemGyu

Today marks 191 days since my man Cho Kyuhyun started serving for his country, which also means mostly laying low and staying out of the public eye for two years. Man began receiving training a day previous to my birthday and I recall having a pretty hard time coping with it, the most conflicted birthday in my life. This has been difficult and challenging year for me in many little ways, so that was like, a cherry on top.

I was one heck of an emotional mess when he took to Twitter and posted that picture of his freshly shaved head above for the world to see for the first time. (Sounds like I was being dramatic and overreacting, but you’re not wrong.) The entirety of my timeline was wretched for such a perfectly dismal day. That was when realizations came crashing in. We do not own him in any way, he had to go and he could go whether we like or approve of it or not.

By the morning of May 25, photos and videos of fans waiting out in the blazing hot sun at the training center started floating around. From young girls to women in their 20’s, all gathered on the ground byforming what looked like a sit-in movement to protest against the government’s policies, if you didn’t read their signs and banners showing love and support toward none other than Cho Kyuhyun.

Once Kyuhyun’s vehicle was seen entering the area, the fans began running after it. Situation got a little hot and chaotic as they were suddenly swarming around by the time the car pulled in and his skinny figure showed up in dark-themed casual attire and his favorite hat. The crowd was relatively well-behaved though, I don’t think anyone got hurt.

My already puffy eyes welled up. Those fangirls, mostly foreigners (non-Koreans), burst into tears and sniveled querulously. Not to mention those outside the gate who learned that their flying all the way from overseas to bid him farewell was of no use, that their efforts were going down the drain, for they couldn’t even see a strand of his hair properly.

His family and a few of Super Junior managers and staff were there, sans the members themselves, as they’d announced that there wouldn’t be a farewell party (not really a party, just members coming to drop him off and greet fans and the press who are present). It’s become an unwritten rule that only active duty soldiers got such a thing in the group and you know why.

General public has always associated public service with a special treatment which privileged people like famous celebrities, rich businessmen and other powerful figures often pull some strings to get into. In these people’s eyes, doing public services, or anything other than active duty in the Army or Marine corps, is just half the effort. And they believe that every dude who goes public servicing must want to have it easier and will do it in slipshod manner, because they think they are special, fragile snowflakes.

(A little trivia: There really have been times where high profiles were exposed to strong censure for going to extreme lengths to cheat their way into the public service and even dodge conscription for good. Click through to find out. That is one, and only the tip of the iceberg.)

In fact, not everyone does. In Kyuhyun’s case, it’s not at all a special treatment. For someone who got in two car accidents and was once at death’s door, he could be exempt from military service. But now, he’s about to begin his military training. My point is, under that gloss of the rich and famous, some really look past it when it comes to protecting their country. Kyuhyun is one of them.

If you jump on the bandwagon of bullies seeing red and trying to rip celebrities to shreds for getting in public service, why don’t you hop off their backs and start doing background checks on what caused them to first? Kyuhyun had drawn to close the monthly Twitter update of his well-being that he wrote for fans in fear of people and the media’s wrath. And you guys, who have too much free time spared on here to cross the line and leave not just negative but full-blown mean reactions, are to blame for that.

I said what I said. So bummed, ’cause all we have left now are candids and several cardboard cutouts of him from press cons he failed to attend (yep, actual cardboard cutouts). It is punishing to stand the void after years of stanning and seeing him on regular basis. Alas, we’ve only been barely six months in, there are eighteen to go. Sweet Lord, this has got to be the ever longest, worst drought I am to survive.

Though if you’ve been in the fandom long enough, you’ll know Kyuhyun is excellent when it comes to not breathing a word of what (there’re LOTS) he has in store. He would keep the stuff he’s been thoughtfully prepping for a quite long time on the down low first, then spill them all in one go when the time comes. Proven yet again, as the cheeky youngest Super Junior starts showering us with surprises in the recent days.

New projects keep coming and news about him is suddenly all over the media. He began sending fans little signals and showing us his face every now and again. He also appears in friends’ pictures from time to time. Well, evidently, his way of laying low is not that bad after all.

This morning, the much-missed man came out of his dungeon with a new selfie, looking fresh with no makeup on. The place in the background is Schloss Schönbrunn Palace Garden of Vienna, Austria—wherein he likely vacationed with his family during last Chuseok holiday. His buzzcut has, too, grown longer after six months.

Forget that weird-looking smile, he appeared healthy, hydrated and vibrant as though he’s been getting enough sleep and eating good. Suddenly my skin is clear, my crops are flourishing, the sun is shining and the world feels like a better place. I’m soft. Look at this little bean, truly a gift that keeps on giving. 👀

Kyu’s tweet: welcome, its been a long time since the monthly publication of the purple egg right^^#eventhoughitsasillyhairstylebutitsokayaslongasitsmeright https://t.co/EmWrlPAg4d

— Yoojin ♡ (@teukables) December 2, 2017

Super Junior are gearing up for a comeback. (Everybody throw your hands in the air!!) The veteran group finally decided it’s high time they end the two-year long hybernation, put out music and snatch the throne of bop makers  and *SM Ent.’s PR team voice* Hallyu Kings back to where they rightfully belong.

I’m in raptures about brand new concept, new songs, new videos, new tour and absolutely the new group reality show they’re hosting (check out SJ Returns on vlive.tv). It takes a lot for me to not start crying at night. Could you believe they are making variety show comeback? Super Junior? Having a proper promotion? Sounds fake, ’cause those are (some completely normal) things we haven’t gotten to experience in two or three past eras. Exciting.

And yet, my heart sank when this upcoming new era put in mind the saddest part of a 2017 Super Junior comeback. Kyuhyun’s blatant absence that leaves hole a little too big to either fill up or ignore. I am not used to not eagerly finding out how his teaser images look like once they are out, neither am I used to not having particular parts he sings that always give my ears pure bliss in each song. How’s that supposed to happen?

Only a few days previous to the album release, SM Entertainment revealed that our main vocalist, Cho honey-voice Kyuhyun, did participate in the album production. His vocals are featured in two songs titled “Girlfriend” and “Too Late” from the album’s Play version and one titled “Shadowless” from Pause version. The man did it again with his surprises. God is good, y’all!

Another good news to drop today is, I heard from the grapevine that they even plan on making another Explorers of the Human Body a.k.a the gold mine of South Korean TV show’s history. The show that catapulted Suju into variety stardom and entertainment icons viewers can trust in the biz.

This is plain unfair to us, Kyuhyun stans, not gonna lie, because he had to sit the first season out due to post-accident recovery and when an opportunity to do second season comes along, he has to give it another miss. Nonetheless, still happy for the boys and fans who have waited for nearly a decade. (You guys better be responsible by actually watching all the episodes and not letting it flop! LOL)

Alrighty, then. Enough for today. This one’s pretty lengthy and it’s to make up for a break I feel like having next year. Been so uninspired to write anything lately, I think it’s wise to take my time off this site and come back later with some quality content. 😁 I wish Super Junior an accomplishing comeback, and more fans seeing them this era.

To Cho Kyuhyun, you’ll never read this anyway, but I am looking forward to the day we meet again, so I can show you a much better and happier version of myself. Serve well and stay healthy. ❤

onehallyu.com

SM Entertainment (Super Junior’s agency) recently dropped one enormous bombshell when they disclosed a notice of Kyuhyun’s definite military enlistment date. He’s set to head off to the Nonsan Army Training Center on May 25.

That is two days before his 11th anniversary with SuJu and one before my own birthday. The perfect timing goes on to be the next thing that leaves a sour taste in my mouth after the two-year hiatus. It had been known that he’d be going in this year, but not by a long shot did I have an idea about it being in this special month.

I barely have three weeks to see Kyuhyun out and about before he starts laying low and living under the radar, which is not enough. I didn’t get to hype up his comebacks and lastest releases for a bunch of stuff going on in real life, and have not kept up with his news in forever and a day. 

When I first logged in to Twitter again after a while, my timeline was flooded with news articles about his upcoming big day. I’d sort of deserted him and it just slapped me hard in the face that he is about to go MIA. And as much as my chest is swelling with pride, it’s still hard not to see him in such a long time. Even during group hiatus, the man would still come on TV for his weekly programs, solo promos and other individual activities. 

I cannot think of one particular day in my years of being a fan without a single without a single photo or video of him arriving at airports, attending concerts, going backstage at musicals, etc. week in, week out. We’ve been thriving with at least one new content every day, and now our brains ought to cook up ways to muddle through when this regularity has to stop. Beyond any doubt, the next two years will be a dry spell for us Kyuhyun fans.

One reason that helps me keep my cool these days is because Kyuhyun doesn’t seem like he’s dreading this whole conscription thing. It is a national duty of Korean men to perform the compulsory military service, but would you believe me if I tell you there are citizens who take extreme lengths to dodge draft? I said it repeat, extreme. 

With Kyuhyun though, while he’s confessed sadness over not being able to see fans and worries that we would leave him for the young’uns, he doesn’t place his responsibility to his country on the back burner for such excuses. In perspective of a fan, I reckon it’s the most beneficial for celebrities or entertainers to quickly get it over and done with than evade it.

Negligence of the duty has been a really sensitive issue among Korean public, and once allegations about your desertion are out, be ready for the repercussions:  relentless press coverage and public outcry which can also lead to a thorough investigation from the government that might result in harsh penalties. Chances are, the hostile public sentiment lasts for the rest of your career.

To those wondering, Kyuhyun is disqualified from active duty and will be enlisting as public service worker. It has a lot to do with a car accident that almost cost four SuJu members and several managers their lives in April 2007. In actual fact, the tragedy left them with major injuries. Kyuhyun’s rib bones pierced into his lungs, he went into a four-day coma and was presumed to have only 20 percent chance of survival. For how serious it was, he could’ve been exempt from military service.




For a song from other singer, I weighed it up a lot and could scarcely settle on. Suddenly I conceived this idea of him singing slow rock ballads, like Eric Clapton’s Grammy winning “Tears in Heaven,” but rowed back on it. That was just as my other favorite male singer, Ed Sheeran, popped up in my mind. If can’t get him to sing a rock ballad, then ‘swelling ballad’ would do. 

Nah, not “Shape of You.” 

I plumped for “Photograph.” Alright, but imagine Kyuhyun singing “The A Team” acoustic? Umm??????? That’d be the death of me. Why is that? Firstly, I like the song (duh) and the vibes it gives off. Secondly, it is the type of song that Kyuhyun might like even though he doesn’t have the best English pronunciation. And most importantly, the song can channel or express the sadness and emptiness we feel about the whole enlistment thing. The lyrics are about a long distance relationship, and here we are about to have one. Boohoo.


My wish is not for the time to be forever frozen still, but for it to fast forward to the day you’ll discharge. By the time it comes, we all will warmly yet passionately welcome you back with the better version of ourselves who—just like what you wrote in your last letter—“can confidently go around saying ‘I am a Kyuhyun fan!’” 

Serve well and come back healthy! 

Mamacita

P.S. Give this friend a quick thumbs-up for each video, aight? 😉

He took his mask off and unveiled his true identity. Every panelist besides Kim Gura—who is Kyuhyun’s co-emcee in Radio Star—was faking a surprised face as if they wouldn’t have thought it was him. Looks amusing to me. 

 Since he got ousted, he wasn’t supposed to sing anymore. Before leaving, he gave his last speech. How Gura had advised him to partake in KOMS and how he went along with it since his main goal was to prove that Super Junior is not a mere variety group they’ve been perceived as for years. They are not comedians. These thirty year olds can sing, and like, even three of them are applauded by many to be the best in their field. 

Well, Kyuhyun is. I don’t make the rules.

Kyuhyun’s sneaky ass knows best how to make those voters regret their worst life choice of letting him leave this soon. He said it was unfortunate (of him getting trounced), since he’s prepared a grand song for round three. R&B and ballad singer Park Hyoshin’s hit, “Wild Flower.” This led to audience and panelists’ regret and guilt. Mwahaha. 

Fan’s reply:

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Great job though, to whoever did it, you da man! Your wholesome words might’ve just brought a whole new meaning to someone fangirl (if not whole) life. Not only about being noticed by her idol anymore, far more than that, they could’ve encouraged her, stimulated her to continue developing herself, or pushed her towards her future goals. And this part in particular, absolutely my new favorite quote. ♡ 

>If you have given your greatest effort for your own life, no matter when or where, if we, with our own roles, meet each other under normal circumstances and if your feelings towards me have not changed at that time, the future you imagine may become reality!

— Cho Kyuhyun