Super Junior’s Heechul has finally shared the real reason behind his departure from the popular variety show “Knowing Bros” after spending 11 years as one of its regular cast members.
While many believed his busy schedule played a major role, the singer said his decision was ultimately influenced by Kang Ho Dong’s strong belief that viewers should always come first.
According to Shining Awards, Heechul made the revelation in a recent YouTube video titled “The universe star Kim Heechul, who almost became the first idol to participate in a control diss battle,” uploaded on the Egennam Swings channel.
During the conversation, he reflected on the difficult choice to step away from the long-running program while balancing Super Junior’s activities. The idol explained that filming for “Knowing Bros” took place every Thursday.
Last year, however, Super Junior was busy with its 20th anniversary tour, with concerts usually scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The packed schedule often made it difficult for him to attend recordings.
“‘Knowing Bros’ records every Thursday. Last year, while Super Junior was holding their 20th anniversary tour, our concerts were usually held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Because of that, there were times when I had to miss ‘Knowing Bros’ recordings on Thursdays, or the team had to record twice because of me,” Heechul said.
Although scheduling conflicts created challenges, Heechul stressed that Kang Ho Dong’s professional attitude became the biggest reason he felt it was right to leave.
Heechul Reveals Kang Ho Dong’s Role
According to Heechul, the veteran entertainer has always believed that keeping promises to viewers is more important than personal circumstances.
“Ho Dong hyung’s mindset has always been that viewers come first. He is someone who believes that whether I’m tired, have a broken leg, or have a cold, the most important thing is maintaining trust with the viewers,” he shared.
Heechul added that working alongside Kang Ho Dong changed the way he looks at television and entertainment. He recalled one of Kang’s memorable sayings that left a lasting impression on him, AllKPop reported.
“When it’s 4 AM, everyone starts getting sleepy, but Ho Dong hyung says, ‘No. It’s 4 AM for us, but for the viewers, it’s 6 PM.’ After hearing that, I realized he was absolutely right,” Heechul said.
His comments showed that leaving “Knowing Bros” was not simply about managing his calendar. Instead, it reflected his respect for Kang Ho Dong’s viewers-first philosophy and his desire to avoid disrupting the production team or disappointing audiences.
During the same interview, Heechul also looked back on Super Junior’s early career. When asked about dividing earnings among the group’s 13 members, he admitted the members often earned very little during their rookie days.
“Back then, honestly, every time we appeared on broadcasts, we were actually losing money. We didn’t earn more than other groups, but we did make enough to live on,” he said.