With a career spanning nearly 17 years and having won countless awards, Super Junior truly deserves their moniker, "Kings of the Hallyu Wave." Thanks to the continued support of their loyal fan club "Ever Lasting Friends," aka E.L.F.s, the veteran K-pop group has numerous firsts included in their list of accomplishments. While the idea of a sub-unit (a unit within an already existing K-pop group) is no longer new, Super Junior is actually the first idol group to establish the concept through Super Junior K.R.Y, Super Junior-T, Super Junior-M, Super Junior-H, and Super Junior D&E.
Here's a brief explainer on how these sub-units work:
- Super Junior K.R.Y (2006): The group's three main vocalists (Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung), made use of their powerhouse vocals in countless OSTs and solo albums, and released their first mini-album When We Were Us in 2020.
- Super Junior-T (2007): Leeteuk, Heechul, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, and former member Kangin wanted to explore trot music, Korea's oldest form of pop music. Their hit song "Rokugo" remains a fan favorite to be performed on tour.
- Super Junior-M (2008): The sub-unit was created in order for the group to become more active and promote in China. Two Chinese members (current member Zhou Mi and former member Henry) were exclusive to Super Junior-M.
- Super Junior-H (2008): Super Junior's "Happy" sub-unit consisted of members Leeteuk, Yesung, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, and former member Kangin.
- Super Junior D&E (2011): Dance line members Donghae and Eunhyuk make up the final Super Junior sub-unit.
Super Junior D&E: The Members
Donghae
Instagram: @leedonghae
YouTube: Super Junior Donghae LEE
Birthday: October 15, 1986
Fandom name: Elfish
If you didn't know any better, you'd think Donghae was Super Junior's maknae (youngest member). His sweet, slightly naive, yet passionate personality endears him to many, and his fans truly appreciate his efforts to chat with them on Instagram live in different languages (he's pretty comfortable in both Chinese and Japanese, and has been studying English diligently!). In D&E, Donghae is mainly in charge of the group's sound—he's a frequent co-composer and co-writer for their songs!
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3oZkMmC]
Eunhyuk
Instagram: @eunhyuk_outfit feat. his OOTDs (His personal Insta was @eunhyukee44 until he deactivated it)
YouTube: 1LDAN EUNHYUKEE
Birthday: April 4, 1986
Fandom name: Jewels
Better known by his stage name, Eunhyuk takes the lead when it comes to performance. From choreo to stage direction, he's your man. Although his personal Instagram was deactivated, the idol still makes it a point to spam fans with photos via his OOTD account (eunhyuk_outfit) and on Bubble, the paid messaging service. Eunhyuk likes to poke fun at ELFs—he frequently teases them on social media, and ELFs definitely tease him back! One of his favorite stories to tell is when fans photoshopped his fall during "The Beat Goes On" live stage at Inkigayo.
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3ALVA5f]
Super Junior D&E: The History
It all started because Donghae felt lonely onstage...no, really. Rather than performing a solo number during Super Junior's SUPER SHOW 4 concert tour in 2011, Donghae managed to convince Eunhyuk to share his stage, and together they performed "Oppa, Oppa" for the first time. SM Entertainment's Lee Soo Man liked it so much that he pushed for their official sub-unit debut (on December 16 at Music Bank!), and the rest is history.
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2012 saw their Japanese release of "Oppa, Oppa" charting on both the Oricon and Tower Records charts. Meanwhile, the duo made the most of overseas trips in 2013, which led to their second Korean single release "Still You" (penned by Donghae!). In 2014 they welcomed their first full-length (Japanese) album, Ride Me, along with the official sub-unit name Super Junior D&E—they had been known as Donghae & Eunhyuk until then. 2014 also brought about their first tour as a sub-unit, and they visited nine cities around Japan for a total of 22 concert dates.
The duo released their first Korean mini-album The Beat Goes On in 2015. Stunning both ELFs and the general public, the title track was an emotional ballad (co-composed and co-written by Donghae). "Growing Pains" remains a top-tier song to this day—in fact, they performed a more recent cover during 2020's SMTOWN Live!
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After dropping Super Junior D&E's first mini-album Present, they proceeded with a second tour of Japan, before releasing their fourth Japanese single, "Let's Get It On"—Super Junior D&E's last project together before starting military service in October 2015.
In 2017, they were discharged just two days apart: Eunhyuk from the military on July 12, followed by Donghae from the police on July 14. In the premiere season's first episode of their reality show SJ Returns, we learn that Donghae actually used his last vacation day to see Eunhyuk get discharged!
Fresh from military service, Donghae and Eunhyuk worked quickly to release a Japanese single every month from November 2017 to May 2018. They later compiled the tracks for their second full-length Japanese album, Style, along with four brand-new songs.
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Super Junior D&E's second mini-album 'Bout You dropped in August 2018, and its summery title track was co-written by Donghae and Eunhyuk! September saw the beginning of their third Japan tour, followed by the group's first-ever Asia tour in April 2019. This marked the first time that the duo performed a concert in South Korea.
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If their first mini-album was a medley of emotional and dance songs, and their second mini-album a gift for summer, then Super Junior D&E's third mini-album Danger definitely lived up to its darker concept. Bad Blood, their fourth mini-album released in 2020, continued with the bad boy image, showcased in its title track "B.A.D."
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The repackage, Bad Liar, was released in September 2020 with the title track, "No Love." Super Junior D&E surprised fans with a fifth Japanese single, "Wings," on November 25. (If you're a merch collector, you're clearly getting the picture here—ELFs who love merch need to have deep pockets, lol.)
Since their tenth anniversary is coming up on December 16, 2021, Donghae and Eunhyuk have been working on their first Korean full-length(!) album. With an October comeback confirmed by Label SJ, teasers for Countdown have been shared on social media near-daily since the announcement: From CF parodies, to a D&E 10th anniversary "special talk," a Super Junior D&E 10-year special medley, and more. Donghae and Eunhyuk will also be pre-releasing solo songs before the album drops. Donghae's "California Love" features NCT's Jeno, and the MV premiered on October 13.
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Eunhyuk's solo is soon to follow, and the pair is also releasing a documentary titled COUNTDOWN TO ZERO on October 17. Congratulations on this amazing milestone, boys—continue working hard until the day that Pearl Sapphire Blue balloons cover the entire world!
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Donghae and Hyukjae: The Friendship
Although their sub-unit is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021, Donghae and Eunhyuk (real name: Lee Hyukjae) have been friends for twice as long. The two met as trainees when they were around 14-15 years old!
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Even when they're part of a bigger group, it's obvious that their bond is quite strong—watch episode 301 of Knowing Brothers and see how easily they pick each other out from the crowd! ELFs will definitely have their own favorite "friendship moments", but here are special memories that will for sure make it to everyone's lists (in no particular order):
Super Junior D&E's obsession with the holidays and lip-synching to Christmas songs.
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3vgEgnD]
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When the two of them said it was snowing...while walking outside in the freezing cold.
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3FP29aY]
Donghae's sentimental message to Eunhyuk (shared on Insta) before the two enlisted.
[instagram:https://ift.tt/2XhQsrW]
They planned several meet-ups by scheduling their enlistment vacation days!
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3BYqf0N]
The famous New Year sunrise selfies! (Pictured: 2015 in Malibu and 2018 in South Korea
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3aDVS3k]
[instagram:https://ift.tt/30uW6Is]
[instagram:https://ift.tt/2Z080JP]
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3j40i8w]
Celebrating each others' birthdays...
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3BLPe78]
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3DJvWA8]
...and celebrating the anniversary of Super Junior D&E (December 16th)! We can't wait to see what the two will post this year.
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3vdfm8B]
[instagram:https://ift.tt/3aEWuG1]
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Bonus: D&E in a nutshell
If there was one video that could describe their friendship dynamic, it would have to be this famous fancam. Eunhyuk's exasperated disbelief over Donghae's mistake still makes ELFs laugh to this day, and fans can't help but find Donghae's embarrassed laughter cute. Enjoy this dose of serotonin to brighten your day!
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Follow Andie on Instagram and Twitter.
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Source: Cosmo PH
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