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| SM Entertainment says Kim Hee-chul is still a member of K-pop group Super Junior. Courtesy of JTBC |
By Lee Gyu-lee
SM Entertainment has denied a rumor that Kim Hee-chul has left K-pop group Super Junior.
The agency told news outlets Tuesday that Kim, 36, is still a member.
"Kim Hee-chul is continuing to take part in the group's albums and related content, even if he cannot perform on stage," it said.
The rumor came after Kim spoke about his hiatus from the group's activities during the March 16 episode of JTBC's talk show "Love of 7.7 Billion."
Mentioning the incapacitating leg injury from a car accident 14 years ago, he revealed doctors six years ago had advised him to refrain from performing.
"So I told the members that 'my career as a dance artist is over, so I won't be able to be part of the group's act,'" he said.
He went on to describe how fellow members were supportive and encouraging him to stay in the group despite the circumstances.
"I really appreciated their support but I did not want to put them out," Kim said. "So for right now, I'm out of Super Junior."
However, the agency said his comments were edited "in a way that could be misleadingly interpreted."
Kim debuted as a Super Junior member in 2005. He was in a serious car crash in 2006 that left him in hospital for months. In December, he revealed he has been taking breaks from the group when the injury flares up.
The singer has been featuring in various TV shows including JTBC's popular "Knowing Bros" and SBS's reality show "My Little Old Boy."
