Kangin Announces Departure From Super Junior, Label SJ Respects Decision

Through an Instagram post, Kangin divulges the sad news.

On July 11, Kangin posted for the first time in a long while to announce his exit from Super Junior, a group he has been with for fourteen years.

Image from Newsen

In the Instagram post, he wrote:

“Hello. This is Kangin. It’s really been a while since I’ve communicated with you all. It is with a heavy heart that I am delivering this news since it is not good news. But after much deliberation, I decided to let you all know.

As of today, I am letting go of the name ‘Super Junior’, a name I have been with for a very long time.

I’ve always felt apologetic to my members.

I have always thought that I needed to make the decision as soon as possible. But because of the people who continued to cheer for me and support me as well as my label despite my shortcomings, I found it hard to get the courage to do so. I also felt that I was not in a position to decide anything on my own.

However, as I watch my members go through difficult situations in relation to my problems, I determined that I should not delay my decision any longer.

I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to E.L.F who has given me overwhelming yet undeserved love for the past 14 years.

This may be late, but these feelings of gratitude and apology will always remain in me. Even if I no longer bear the name “Super Junior” and while I walk on my own path.

I would like to express my gratitude to the members and my label’s staff who supported me until the end.

I will always support Super Junior and cheer for their success. Thank you.”

View this post on Instagram

안녕하세요. 강인입니다. 정말 오랜만에 여러분들께 소식을 전하네요. 좋지 않은 소식이라 마음이 무겁지만 고심 끝에 글을 올립니다. 저는 이제 오랜 시간 함께했던 ‘슈퍼주니어’란 이름을 놓으려 합니다. 항상 멤버들에게는 미안한 마음뿐이었습니다 하루라도 빨리 결심하는 것이 맞다고 항상 생각해왔지만 못난 저를 변함 없이 응원해 주시는 분들과 회사 식구들이 마음에 걸려 쉽사리 용기 내지 못했고 그 어떤것도 제가 혼자 결정해서는 안된다는 생각도 했습니다 하지만 제 문제로 인해 겪지 않아도 될 일들을 겪는 멤버들을 지켜보면서 더 이상 늦춰서는 안되겠다는 판단을 하게 되었습니다. 무엇보다 14년이란 오랜 시간 동안 언제나 과분한 사랑을 주신 E.L.F. 여러분들께 가장 죄송한 마음입니다. 많이 늦었지만 슈퍼주니어란 이름을 내려놓고 홀로 걷는 길에도 항상 미안함과 고마움을 가슴에 새기고 나아가겠습니다. 끝까지 저를 배려해 준 멤버들과 회사 식구분들께 정말 감사하다는 말씀 드리고 싶습니다. 언제나 슈퍼주니어가 승승장구하기를 응원하겠습니다. 감사합니다.

A post shared by 강인 (@kanginnim) on Jul 10, 2019 at 9:02pm PDT

Label SJ, a subsidiary company under SM Entertainment which is responsible for all activities and endeavors of Super Junior, acknowledged Kangin’s decision. A representative from the label said, “We have decided to respect his decision to withdraw from the company.”

The representative also added that his contract under SM Entertainment remains. However, no further decisions have been made regarding his future activities as of the moment.

Kangin has been a part of Super Junior since the group debuted in 2005.