Super Junior's Kim Heechul disclosed that he developed a disability as a result of the aftereffects of a car accident in the past.
On the 12th, during the SBS variety show "My Ugly Duckling" (hereafter "Miwoo Sae"), a shaman said after reading his New Year's fortune, "Heechul, you are living a life of bonus right now. You had a major crisis in your 20s. Your body took a big hit back then," prompting this confession.
The shaman advised Kim Heechul, "Be careful in July 2025. Be cautious in the summer. If you suffer a fracture or break something, you could really become a disabled person," to which Kim Heechul responded, "Actually, I haven't revealed this anywhere, but I have a disability rating."
In 2006, Kim Heechul was involved in a car accident while traveling to Seoul after attending the funeral of fellow group member Donghae's father. He suffered serious injuries, including a femur fracture and an ankle fracture, requiring a major surgery with seven metal pins inserted, and he is reported to have received a grade 4 disability rating.
He said, "When I received the disability rating, there’s a sticker you put on your car, right? I went to get that, but then I thought, 'No, I should live more actively,' and I decided not to take it," adding, "At that time, I didn't want to accept that my body was in so much pain." He also mentioned, "I didn't originally talk about this because I was worried that my fans would be sad."
Watching from the studio, Kim Heechul's mother couldn't hold back her tears, expressing her gratitude, "I'm so thankful that my son has worked so hard."
