Super Junior-M (stylized as SJ-M; an initialism for Super Junior-Mandarin), is a Chinese sub-unit and the third overall sub-unit of the South Korean boy band Super Junior. The group is the first international music group in the Chinese music industry to have members of both Chinese and Korean descent.
Formed in 2008, Super Junior-M became the third and most successful subgroup branched off from the Korean band Super Junior. The group originally composed of seven members: leader Han Geng, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun and two additional members appearing exclusively to the subgroup, Zhou Mi and Henry. In December 2009, Han Geng filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment and decided to leave the main group and sub-group, resulting in the sub-group's temporary disbandment.
After a year-long hiatus, the group returned with addition Super Junior members Eunhyuk and Sungmin, following with the released of their second EP Perfection in February 2011. Following Han Geng's leave, the group considers that Sungmin as the new "leader", as he is the oldest member of the team. However, SM Entertainment has not released any statements about electing a new group leader.
In 2015, the group halted group promotions following of the Korean members began their military service and since then the group has been inactive.
On April 30, 2018, Henry left SM after his contract expired and effectively left the group.
History
Name origin
Before the official name of the subgroup was released, they were known by "Super Junior China". On April 3, 2008, SM Entertainment announced their official name to be Super Junior-M, with "M" representing the word "Mandarin". The "M" can also represent a list of other aspects, such as the first letter of their debut album Me, and also "" (), the pinyin for "charismatic" and "fan", the latter meaning referring to their desire to connect closer with fans.
2007: Formation and controversies
In October 2007, SM Entertainment announced that a new Super Junior subgroup would debut in China in 2008. Super Junior's original member Han Geng, and a new member Henry Lau, who performed the violin solo of Super Junior's "Don't Don", were announced to be the first two of seven members representing the subgroup. Some of Super Junior's official fanclub, E.L.F, signed online petitions and held protests to express their dissatisfaction and opposition of adding a fourteenth member to the group, fearing that a new member would mean one of the original lineup would get 'replaced'. Many fans boycotted Super Junior's products and held silent protests in front of SM Entertainment's main building in Seoul, holding signs of the "Only 13" slogan.
Over one thousand fans appeared in front of the SM Entertainment building on E.L.F's third protest on November 3, 2007. Instead of a silent protest, the fans sang various Super Junior songs and shouted "thirteen." Fans purchased 58,206 stocks of SM Entertainment, holding 0.3% of the company's entire stock. They released a statement through the media, stating that they would obtain all chances to prevent SM Entertainment from adding new members and to keep Super Junior as only thirteen. SM Entertainment later announced that they would not add the new subgroup members to the main group.
2008–2009: Debut and commercial success
From April 4 to April 7, 2008, the seven members of Super Junior-M were individually announced to the Chinese media in a chain of short trailer clips. The first member, Han Geng, was announced to be the subgroup leader on April 4. On April 5, Siwon and Donghae were revealed to be the second and third members. On April 6, Kyuhyun was announced to be the fourth Super Junior-M member, following the new member, Henry, as the fifth. Ryeowook and another new member, Zhou Mi, were announced to be the final two members on April 7. A trailer of all seven members was released on the group's debut day, April 8. Super Junior-M's trailer clips exceeded 1.4 million views in less than four days.