Kim Hee Chul reveals why he left 'Knowing Bros' after 11 years

Kim Hee Chul has candidly revealed the reasons behind his departure from the JTBC variety show 'Knowing Bros,' which he had been a part of for 11 years. He confessed that it wasn't simply a matter of scheduling, but rather that the 'viewer-first' broadcasting philosophy he learned from Kang Ho-dong played a major role in his decision.

On the YouTube channel 'Swings' released on the 1st, Kim explained that his concerns deepened as Super Junior's long-term activities overlapped with the program's recording schedule.

He explained, "We record 'Knowing Bros' every Thursday, but most of Super Junior's 20th-anniversary tour last year consisted of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances. This led to repeated situations where I either had to miss the Thursday recording or the production team had to conduct the recording twice because of me."

Above all, what influenced Kim the most was Kang Ho-dong's professionalism.

"Ho-dong hyung is someone who always puts the viewers first," he said. "Whether I am tired, have a broken leg, or have a cold, he believes the most important thing is the promise to the viewers. Meeting him changed my mindset regarding broadcasting a lot."

He continued by sharing a phrase Kang frequently used on set, noting how deeply impressed he was.

"When it reaches 4 AM, everyone is exhausted, but Ho-dong hyung says, 'No. It might be 4 AM for us, but it is 6 PM for the viewers.'"

Kim recalled, "When I heard those words, I thought it was truly the right thing to say. That mindset has remained with me until now."

Ultimately, he decided that rather than causing harm to the program, it was right to step down, and after long deliberation, he made the decision to leave.

During the appearance, he also spoke candidly about his income during his Super Junior activities.

When asked if profit distribution was difficult due to the group's 13 members, Kim laughed and replied, "At that time, there were many cases where we actually ended up in the negative even after appearing on broadcasts."

However, he looked back, saying, "It's not that we earned significantly more than other teams, but there was enough income to make a living."

He then drew laughter by honestly confessing, "Since I started my solo activities and began doing 'Knowing Bros,' I have been earning much more than during my Super Junior days."

Kim, who served as one of the central pillars of 'Knowing Bros' for 11 years, showed that his departure was not merely a personal matter, but a choice made to honor a 'promise to the viewers.'