Leeteuk Shares Super Junior Photo Without Siwon, Snub or Mistake?

Leeteuk posted a photo without Siwon present.
Siwon claimed to be Kim Jong Un's cousin.
Fans continue demanding Siwon exit Super Junior.

The world of K-Pop fandoms is rarely quiet, but when Super Junior's leader, Leeteuk, posts something cryptic, it sets off a firestorm. That's exactly what happened recently when Leeteuk took to his Instagram and shared a promotional photo for the group's brand deal with Mega Coffee. 

The picture featured several of the members, all smiles, but eagle-eyed fans immediately noticed something or rather, someone was missing. Member Choi Siwon was conspicuously absent from the lineup. 

Leeteuk Posts Super Junior Photo Without Siwon

To make matters more intriguing, in the spot where he might have been, there was what appeared to be a hasty scribble or an edit, effectively blotting him out. The action seemed deliberate and sent a wave of confusion and speculation across social media platforms. 

"I'M SCREAMING LEETEUK HAHAHAH I CAN'T MAKE THIS SHIT UP."

"the amount of times leeteuk hv shown his disinterest in siwon is so funny. get the fuck out siwon."

The situation grew even more intense when Leeteuk, perhaps anticipating the backlash, seemingly turned off the comments on the post. However, in a move that added another layer to the drama, he deleted the entire post not long after.

Leeteuk soon addressed the incident directly, offering an explanation that aimed to douse the flames but, for some, only added more intrigue.

“Ah, for those on IG. I just thought it was a group photo. I just took a screenshot and uploaded it. I really didn’t know that Siwon was missing from it. I uploaded it without giving it much thought," Leteuk confessed.

"Since there was a picture of Heechul and me, I thought, ‘Oh, then I should also post the group photo.’ But I think I just looked at my own photo and uploaded it. So, I deleted it. There wasn’t any particular meaning behind it or anything like that, so I hope you don’t misunderstand," he claimed. 

While this clarified his official stance, for many fans, the damage was already done. The incident was seen as another piece of evidence in a growing narrative of an internal rift within the group, especially since other members like Yesung and Heechul had previously unfollowed Siwon on Instagram. The leader's action, whether intentional or a genuine oversight, highlighted the palpable tension surrounding Siwon's place in the group's public image.

Siwon's TikTok Antics Draw Widespread Criticism and Revive Past Controversies

While Leeteuk was dealing with the fallout from his Instagram, Siwon was simultaneously creating a new wave of controversy on a different platform which is TikTok. 

The idol has been actively going live on the platform, often collaborating with random users and creators who are largely unfamiliar with him or Super Junior. 

It was during one of these live sessions that Siwon made a statement that left international fans and netizens utterly bewildered and disappointed. In an attempt at what seemed to be humor, he introduced himself to another user as "Kim Jong Un's cousin." 

"I'm politician from the North Korea... I'm just Kim Jong Un's cousin... I'm politician, I'm just working for my country now," said Siwon.

The joke, referencing the authoritarian leader of North Korea, was widely panned as tone-deaf, insensitive, and culturally irresponsible, especially given the serious nature of the North Korean regime's human rights record.

This was not an isolated misstep. In another joint live session with Leeteuk himself, Siwon was seen actively explaining to viewers how to send virtual gifts, which can be converted into real monetary value. This sparked fury among fans, who questioned why an idol from a wealthy family and a successful 20-year career would need to solicit digital donations. 

This series of embarrassing moments on TikTok caused netizens to resurface Siwon's long history of controversial behavior. The backlash reached a crescendo, with many stating that his actions are actively tarnishing Super Junior's legacy and reputation.

This recent behavior has served as a catalyst, causing fans to collectively recall the beginning of the major demand for his exit from the group, which stemmed from a controversy in September 2025. 

At that time, Siwon posted a tribute on Instagram mourning the death of Charlie Kirk, a well-known American conservative activist famous for his polarizing views and close ties with former President Donald Trump. Fans interpreted Siwon's tribute, which included religious wording like "good and faithful servant," as a direct endorsement of Kirk's ideology rather than a simple condolence. 

This sparked significant backlash, as K-pop idols are generally expected to avoid political or polarizing subjects to maintain a broad, global fanbase. The situation escalated, leading to hashtags like #SiwonOut trending on social media. 

Despite Siwon deleting the posts and explaining that his tribute was meant to mourn a "tragic loss" regardless of politics, a large portion of the fanbase remains incensed. The cumulative weight of these incidents, from the perceived racist and islamophobic posts, the Charlie Kirk tribute, the unfollowing by his bandmates, to the recent TikTok livestreams, has created a seemingly unbridgeable rift between Siwon and a significant segment of the Super Junior fandom.

Source: Koreaboo, X, Instagram/xxteukxx, Allkpop, Chosun Daily