Super Junior's Kim Heechul Reveals Height Shrunk 9cm Due to Past Car Accident Injuries

Super Junior member Kim Heechul has opened up about the impact of a past car accident, revealing that his height has decreased.

On the latest episode of KBS Joy's '20th Century Hit-Song,' which aired on the 31st of last month, the show featured singers who overcame hardships to return to the stage. While listening to singer Kim Kyung-ho's story of performing in Japan despite suffering from avascular necrosis of the femoral head, Kim Heechul shared his own experience.

"My body collapsed here, and my height decreased. I was originally around 185cm," he confessed. His current reported height is 176cm.

Kim Heechul was involved in a serious car accident in 2006 while returning to Seoul after attending the funeral of Super Junior member Donghae's father. The accident resulted in severe injuries from his left ankle to his thigh and hip bone, requiring him to undergo major surgery with seven metal pins inserted into his leg. Consequently, he was classified as having a Grade 4 disability.

He had previously shared on SBS's 'My Little Old Boy' why he concealed his disability classification. "I hid the fact that I received a disability diagnosis because I was worried the fans would be sad," he stated. "When I went to receive the disability sticker, I deliberately didn't take it, thinking, 'I need to live more actively.' I didn't want to admit my body was hurting. I thought I could overcome it."

Netizens reacted with sympathy and encouragement, commenting, "Heechul-nim, you overcame those difficult times well," and "Thank you for continuing to be active and show us your best side." Many expressed admiration for his resilience, saying, "It's truly amazing to see you rise above your pain."