9 Christian Members of Korean Boy Band Super Junior Seek to Spread Faith in Their Concerts, Interviews
This 13-member boy band from South Korea has taken the world by storm with their lively music and dance moves.
But Super Junior, the best-selling K-pop artist for the last four years, is interested not just in making their legions of young fans happy. Nine members of the band are Christian who are keen to use their group's popularity to spread their faith in concerts and interviews, according to God Reports.
With the rapid growth of Christianity in South Korea, largely through the efforts of missionaries and churches, it's not surprising that many of its singing stars and other celebrities are Christians.
In 1900, only 1 percent of the country's population was Christian. As of the latest estimate, taken in 2010, roughly three-in-10 South Koreans now follow Christ, including members of the world's largest Pentecostal church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, in Seoul, according to Pew Research Center.
"It is not hard to look within the realms of K-pop and find artists that wear their religion proudly on their sleeves," a writer nicknamed "Warda" wrote on SeoulBeats.
One of them is Super Junior band member Choi Siwon. He recently told CNN: "In the future, I would like to become a missionary. I'd like to go to countries where I have received much love as a musician and personally return all of that love."
Siwon, another band member, frequently tweets Bible verses and prayers. In one interview, he said Jesus is his biggest hero; the Bible his lucky charm, "a must-have item when traveling overseas," and Jerusalem as his favourite place to visit.
In 2007, a road crash badly injured Kyuhyun and three other members of the band. Kyuhyun flew from the car he was riding and was found lying unconscious on the pavement.
Given a 20 percent chance of survival, Kyuhyun beat the odds and rejoined the band in less than three months—singing, thanking and glorifying God for giving him a second chance at life.
"I hope to spread the glory of God through singing, and with this target in mind, I work hard to continue living. And to God who knows everything about me, I hope to be able to keep receiving his endless love," Kyuhyun said.