SM Entertainment's super boy group Super Junior is ready to make a comeback, and plans are set for their return in the latter half of 2017. The group is preparing for the release of their new album as most of the members have returned from their respective military duties.
Shindong and Sungmin completed their mandatory military service in December 2016. According to Koreaboo, Eunhyuk, who is serving in the military band, is expected to be discharged in July while Donghae will complete his duty as a conscripted policeman also in the same month. Super Junior's Siwon, on the other hand, will follow in August.
For their comeback album, member Yesung will not be able to participate since his discharge date is still in 2018, Soompi reported. It is still unclear if Kyuhyun can record for the album since he is scheduled to enlist sometime this year.
During the press conference for "New Journey to the West 3," Kyuhyun discussed his impending military enlistment. "I'm the last member left in Super Junior [to enlist]. I will probably be saying goodbye to all of you sometime this year," the singer said. He added that there's no pressure on him to enlist and that he's not worried about it at all.
Since most of the members will be available starting August, it is presumed that recording and other preparations for the album will begin by then.
Super Junior's 2017 album will be their first material since they released "Magic" in September 2015. The album was also released in commemoration of the group's 10th anniversary since debuting. During the group's hiatus period, some members have been pursuing individual projects.
Meanwhile, Super Junior's grand comeback is just one of the many things on SM Entertainment's list of priorities. The agency is gearing up for the return of TVXQ as Yunho and Changmin are getting discharged from the military this year.
Super Junior and TVXQ's back-to-back promotional activities mark the return of SM Entertainment's popular golden lineup. The agency is also planning album releases for younger idol groups EXO and NCT. Girls' Generation Seohyun and f(x)'s Krystal are also making their respective solo debuts.