Updated October 18 KST:

In response to the reaction following Kim Heechul’s Instagram post on October 17, Label SJ has spoken about his statement.

The agency has said, “The post that Kim Heechul wrote due to his worries about his chronic leg pain ahead of their comeback has been misinterpreted. Kim Heechul will be taking part in Super Junior’s activities as normal.”

Original Article:

On October 17, Super Junior’s Kim Heechul wrote a message on Instagram to explain that his chronic pain will affect his ability to fully take part in the group’s upcoming album promotions.

His full message is as follows:

“Firstly, I’m writing this post while feeling sorry to my members, since I promised I wouldn’t write meaningful posts on social media.

“Many already know, but I’m unable to use my left leg properly because of a car accident 11 years ago.

“However, I’ve been having fun and enjoying doing activities since that time, and I’ve done so while smiling no matter how much it hurt.

“But maybe because a lot of time has passed… I’ve now become more fearful too. As I said on ‘Life Bar’ recently, my ankle pain has often become more severe.

“Sometimes people around me will joke, ‘Come on, it’s been ten years so it must be all better now!’ or ‘Aren’t you just faking it because you don’t want to dance?’ and I’d force myself to smile and move on. It’s because I’ve been doing variety shows since my debut, and in a way I’ve been living a smooth and happy life through variety… so I thought that I have to always make people laugh and act like everything is fine.

“Being a human means that even if I try to do mind control and tell myself ‘I’ll be okay’ and ‘It will get better,’ when my body doesn’t follow along, the inverse proportion with my positive thoughts makes me feel the pain even more.

“In conclusion, Super Junior is making a comeback on November 6. Since we’re making a comeback for the first time in a long while, the members and fans are all excited… and I was of course excited too.

“But I think that I will probably not be able to do normal activities. I apologize again to the fans and members who’ve waited a long time but… I really have no confidence at all [that I can]… Because I have always been thinking this in my heart, I am ashamed to face the members and fans.

“If I can make you understand and receive forgiveness with the excuse ‘I have to work hard in variety and promote!’ then I will be even more grateful as I smile and receive rehabilitation treatment, and I will try to keep my strength up.

“I finish up this post by apologizing to anyone who has possibly felt uncomfortable while reading this selfish message.

“Please don’t get a cold, and no matter how annoying it is, I ask you to always wear a seatbelt while you’re in the car.

“Thank you.”

Kim Heechul’s left leg was fractured in a car accident in 2006. He recently stated on the show “Life Bar” that after rehearsing choreography for Super Junior’s comeback, he cried because he was unable to get up from bed due to pain in his ankle.

Super Junior will be making a return with their eighth full album on November 6, which is the group’s 12th anniversary.

We wish Kim Heechul all the best with his rehabilitation.

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