Kim Heechul Clarifies 'Lawsuit Prank' and 'Cutting Ties' Rumors, Explains 'Entertainer's Tanking'

Super Junior's Kim Heechul has directly addressed recent controversies surrounding his on-air jokes, shedding light on his concept of 'entertainer's tanking.' In a personal YouTube video released early on the 11th, he calmly explained the 'lawsuit prank' with member Donghae, the alleged 'cutting ties' with YouTuber Chungjooman, and various episodes from the JTBC variety show 'Knowing Bros.'

He first touched upon the 'Donghae lawsuit meme' that gained traction even among international fans. Kim Heechul laughed, saying, "I saw a banner in Hong Kong that said, 'Did you sue Donghae oppa?' International fans also loved this prank." While he and Donghae had playful exchanges of 'lawsuit documents' on social media, some in the public reacted by saying, "They're making light of the law." Regarding this, Kim Heechul confessed, "I didn't realize it would be taken this seriously."

He also clarified the 'cutting ties rumor' with Chungjooman that arose during 'Knowing Bros.' "On the show, it was expressed as if I only bought him stew for laughs, but in reality, we keep in touch and are close friends," he stated. "I was just 'tanking' for the sake of the broadcast; it wasn't an actual falling out at all." He added, "Chungjooman felt very apologetic too, but there's no need to apologize, it was a fun episode. If we have to write official statements for things like this, isn't it a suffocating world for comedy?"

Kim Heechul's 'entertainer's tanking' refers to willingly taking on the role of being the target or the 'receiver' in broadcasts to create laughter. He explained, "For laughter, you can't have only people who hit or only people who get hit. What matters is how deliciously you get hit." He cited Jeong Jun-ha as a prime example of someone who embodies this well. Furthermore, he emphasized, "If you take these playful exchanges as reality, then variety shows become impossible. Jokes like me saying Janghoon hyung has 2 trillion won in assets or calling Hodong hyung 'Victim 101' were all comedic devices. If you find all of that uncomfortable, no one can appear on TV."

"I like it when the Super Junior members hit me in a fun way. That's why I love doing variety shows with the members," Kim Heechul stated, reiterating, "Variety shows fail if everyone is trying to hit or everyone is trying to get hit. You need to create a balanced 'tik-tok' to bring joy to viewers."

Ultimately, Kim Heechul's explanation serves not just to quell controversy but to directly address the role he has played in the entertainment world and why misunderstandings arise. "Variety is, after all, a device for laughter. The lawsuit prank with Donghae and the 'cutting ties' joke with Chungjooman are all extensions of that," he concluded, urging, "Please don't take it too seriously and enjoy it."

Kim Heechul debuted with the group Super Junior in 2005 and has since become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Known for his sharp wit and unique sense of humor, he has established himself as a versatile entertainer, particularly in variety shows. He actively communicates with fans through his personal YouTube channel, sharing diverse content.