Super Junior : The Last Man Standing

Controversies

>Expansion to China

After the subgroups Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-T, on October 2, 2007, S.M. Entertainment announced the birth of another Super Junior sub-unit project that would begin activities in China starting 2008.

Zhou Mi and S.M. Entertainment's new Taiwanese-Canadian trainee Henry Lau, who was also featured in the music video of "Don't Don", were also members of the subgroup.

The announcement brought in a huge wave of dissatisfaction and opposition from some fans of Super Junior after the announcement of two new members. Initially, some fans were planning to boycott the company's products, however, most of these fans agreed on a silent protest instead.

Thousands of fans from Super Junior's official fanclub E.L.F. silently sat in front of the SM building and held signs that supported the group having thirteen members.

After more rumors regarding adding another member to the subgroup, the fans decided to gain a legal representation as part of S.M. Entertainment's stockholders. As of March 20, 2008, Super Junior fans purchased 58,206 shares of S.M. Entertainment, holding 0.3% of the company's entire stock. The fans released a statement that they will take every opportunity to prevent S.M. Entertainment from adding new members and to keep Super Junior as only thirteen.

.. I think fifteen is as good as thirteen. Members leaving a group is sad, but new members joining isn't (specially when they are adorably cute Canadians who can dance while playing a violin, and Cullen family members with dazzling smiles).

A 'prom15e to bel13ve' is better than just 'bel13ve' for the sake of it. As far as I'm concerned, those two haven't done anything other than making SJ proud.

And it's impossible to forget that we also have an unofficial 16th member, our gorgeous 'Prince Manager'. :)
But, seriously, buying that much of SM shares was kind of cool. So was standing up against SM Entertainment with such force. I will give them those.  ..

>Conflict with MBC

A time-slot dispute occurred between S.M. Entertainment and MBC when SM insisted to have Kangin stay on SBS's Explorers of the Human Body instead of MBC's Sunday Night Dong-An Club (동안클럽) where Kangin has been a regular host.

MBC temporarily banned the rest of Super Junior from appearing in any future performances and shows hosted by MBC.
Kangin also lost his MC jobs to T.O.P. of Big Bang for the music show, Show! Music Core and also two more variety shows, which both soon canceled after Kangin left due to low ratings.

MBC demanded an apology from S.M. Entertainment in order for Super Junior to appear on shows hosted by the channel again. However, MBC concluded that Super Junior's ban was never official, but just a decision for shows' producers to decide.

>Han Geng's lawsuit and departure from group

On December 21, 2009, Han Geng filed for contract termination with S.M. Entertainment, unhappy with contract length and salary. He claimed that the provisions of his contract were unlawful, harsh, and against his rights hence, unfair profit distributions and the contract of 13 long years that was signed being unfair, containing provisions in SM's favour, and not being allowed to revise or end being the major reasons for the filing of the lawsuit.

The lawyer who represented Hangeng at the lawsuit was Cho BumSuk. On December 21, 2010, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Han Geng.

On September 27, 2011, his departure was made official. The legal representatives of both the parties released a joint statement saying that, "Hangeng and SM entertainment have amicably settled on a mutual agreement, and the lawsuit was able to come to a close after Hangeng submitted his 'Notice of Withdrawal of Appeal' ".