SUPER JUNIOR on Winter Album 'The Road : Celebration' and Their 2023 Plans

SUPER JUNIOR have given their fanbase, known as E.L.F.s, a festive treat in time for the holidays, a new album titled The Road : Celebration - The 11th Album Vol.2, which was released on Thursday, December 15.

The new release consists of five tracks in total, and the iconic K-Pop group told Newsweek all about the process of putting it together.

Using a winter theme throughout, the album includes title track "Celebrate," as well as festive songs "Snowman," "Hate Christmas," a remake of Turbo's hit song "White Love (스키장에서)," and a formally unreleased track "너였으면 참 좋겠다... (If only you)," which was originally recorded by sub-unit SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y.

SUPER JUNIOR on Winter Album The Road : Celebration and Title Track 'Celebrate'

SUPER JUNIOR released their title track, "Celebrate," on December 15 alongside their album, and members LEETEUK, EUNHYUK, DONGHAE, YESUNG, SHINDONG, RYEOWOOK, KYUHYUN and SIWON reflected on the fun, festive vibe of their lead single.

LEETEUK said he hoped their fans "feel warmth and love through our new song" and he added: "I feel like many are experiencing the winter blues as the weather gets colder. I'd like for 'Celebrate' to be a track that feels like a miracle-fulfilling moment of happiness this Christmas."

EUNHYUK, meanwhile, reflected on the length of time it's been since the group's last winter-themed release.

"It's been a while since SUPER JUNIOR released a winter song so I hope our E.L.F.s can spend a warmer winter together with this track," he said.

YESUNG went on to say that while all of the songs on their new album "are centered on a winter theme," he believed that thanks to the "pop element added to the title track," it feels like "a song that people can easily enjoy and feel a warmth from during the cold winter season."

The singer said that he hoped SUPER JUNIOR's new music would "help our fans look forward to a time when we can and will meet again," adding: "I'm happy to be sharing this moment of happiness by singing these songs together."

SHINDONG felt similarly, as he said: "There are certain winter songs that always come to my mind when it gets cold. While preparing for this album, I was excited about the idea of making those sorts of songs. I'm excited to be sharing it with everyone!"

Reflecting on the process of making the album, he went on: "There weren't many difficulties during the recording process, but I was a bit worried when working on 'White Love (스키장에서)' since it is a re-make of a track that's well-known amongst Koreans. However, I'm very happy with how the results turned out, and hope everyone enjoys listening to it a lot."

It was SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y.'s song "너였으면 참 좋겠다... (If only you)" that was particularly noteworthy to members KYUHYUN, RYEOWOOK and YESUNG, who originally recorded the track in 2012 for their sub-unit, but never released it.

"This is a track we've cherished for quite a long time," RYEOWOOK said. "And we felt it'd go well as a b-side track within our 11th Album Vol.2. I hope our fans like it just as much as we do!"

KYUHYUN concurred, adding: "This track holds a lot of the emotions and memories of my younger days so it has a different sense of charm to it.

"We included it in this album because it would be a waste to not reveal such a great track!"

On Their Busy Year and Their 2023 Plans

Given how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the music industry and the group's ability to perform, 2022 gave SUPER JUNIOR the chance to finally step out onstage again for a world tour.

This, EUNHYUK said, was something that they felt thankful for. "We were able to meet our fans again this year after being apart for a long time due to the pandemic," he said.

Of the new album's release rounding off their 18th year in the K-Pop industry, he said: "I'm very happy and grateful that I can spend the end-of-year season with our fans."

SIWON agreed, saying: "I'm thankful I'm able to spend the end of 2022 together with E.L.F.s Just thinking about it excites me because we weren't able to during the pandemic."

The band also looked towards 2023 and their hopes for the future, with RYEOWOOK saying: "We had a lot of group activities in 2022 as SUPER JUNIOR, and I believe 2023 will be full of many more.

"It is my hope that we have more events where we can closely meet our fans whom we haven't been able to see often during the pandemic."

In a similar vein, DONGHAE said: "In 2023, I'd like to go on tour to many other locations to meet our fans around the world. I've also been thinking of visiting places I haven't been able to go to because of the pandemic."

SIWON added: "I hope 2023 will be a year where each and every one of our wishes come true."

SUPER JUNIOR's album The Road : Celebration is out now.