Three top K-Pop idols recently pulled back the curtain on their heyday, offering a candid glimpse into the intense inter-group tensions and challenging working conditions that defined the second generation of K-Pop. Fans got a rare treat on July 17th, when a video dropped on the YouTube channel ZIP DAESUNG, featuring Super Junior’s iconic duo Leeteuk and Heechul alongside BIGBANG’s beloved Daesung. The trio, all legends of their era, spent time reminiscing about what it was truly like in the early days of their careers.
Leeteuk kicked off the conversation by recalling the powerful atmosphere of the music industry back then. “Back then, the power of the companies was really strong,” he explained, highlighting the virtual “duopoly between SM and YG.” He detailed the “intense power struggle,” noting that “during promotions, all agencies except SM were seen as competitors.” Daesung readily agreed, reflecting on how that fiercely competitive mindset was deeply “instilled” in idols, making the agency rivalries far more intense than what we see today.
One of the most telling anecdotes involved the notoriously tense standoff over music show ending stages. Heechul vividly described the situation: “When we were busy, we just wanted to do the opening and go home quickly, but the companies insisted we wait around to go on for the ending stage.” He revealed that both “BIGBANG and Super Junior were both waiting to go on the last stage.” However, Heechul, ever the free spirit, couldn’t endure the seemingly pointless wait. He confessed, “I wanted to go home early, but both groups kept telling each other not to go up,” before dramatically declaring, “I got angry and just went home!” This bold move genuinely surprised Daesung, while Leeteuk, laughing, confirmed, “He really went home.” Heechul further criticized the situation, thinking, “This is really unbearable. We were all singers, but the companies kept pushing us to fight each other.” Daesung concurred, emphasizing, “The singers themselves didn’t care much; it was the companies that created this rivalry.”
The idols also touched upon the mandatory variety shows that served as stepping stones to music program appearances. Leeteuk explained, “It’s not like this now, but back then, you had to appear on certain shows to get on music programs.” Daesung nodded in agreement, adding, “You had to be on flagship variety shows to perform on music shows,” listing iconic programs like Open Concert, Star Golden Bell, Challenge 1000 Songs, and Law of the Jungle.
Beyond the stages and screens, the trio shared the harsh reality of not being able to take breaks even when injured. Kim Heechul recounted a particularly tough memory: “Even while on crutches, if someone said, ‘Heechul must not like our broadcasting station,’ I had to run over.” He paused to acknowledge the progress for younger idols, stating, “Looking at younger idols now, they rest when they’re sick. That’s probably the right way.” Leeteuk even lightened the mood with a joke, “If it were now, I wouldn’t have shown up today either,” revealing he had been in a car accident just the day before after driving 700 kilometers, eliciting laughter. Kim Heechul humorously, yet truthfully, summarized their era: “The hallmark of second-generation idols was that there was no time to rest.” This honest conversation offers a profound insight into the struggles behind the glitz and glamour of K-Pop’s influential second generation.
