Ailing K-pop star Leeteuk takes stage for Latin American fans
Leeteuk, leader of K-pop boyband Super Junior. Korea Times file
By Jung Da-min
Leeteuk is ill, but it couldn't stop him taking the stage for his Latin American fans flocking to a giant arena in Chile to catch a glimpse of the K-pop star.
The leader of K-pop boy band Super Junior performed in the star-studded SMTOWN Special Stage concert at Estadio Nacional, a 48,600-seat stadium in Santiago, on Saturday (local time). He missed the Friday session of the two-day concert due to severe enteritis.
His singings and dancing captivated fans, triggering a torrent of complimentary messages on social media.
“Yesterday Leeteuk was suffering from enteritis and he could not stand up and now this is him at #SMTownChileDay2,” a fan tweeted in English with a video of Leeteuk dancing. “Leeteuk is indeed the best leader in the K-pop world.”
In another video, the singer cracks jokes in Spanish.
The SMTOWN Special Stage in Santiago was South Korea's top entertainment agency SM Entertainment's first large-scale K-pop concert in Latin America.
As well as Super Junior, several household K-pop names under SM's management such as BoA, Girls' Generation's Yuri and Hyoyeon, SHINee's Key and Taemin, EXO and Red Velvet featured in the concert.