EXO leader Suho (김준면) recently appeared on the YouTube channel 'Channel Bandal' alongside SEVENTEEN leader S.Coups (최승철), BOYNEXTDOOR leader Jaehyun (명재현), and SECHSKIES leader Eun Ji-won (은지원) to discuss the ups and downs of leading an idol group. As the conversation progressed, Suho made a rare revelation about his 'regret' as a leader, garnering significant attention.
On June 21, 'Channel Bandal' released its latest video, bringing together leaders from various idol groups to share their daily experiences and the pressures and challenges of shouldering leadership responsibilities for many years.
The program began by posing the question: "If you could choose, would you rather be the youngest member (maknae) of another group, or the maknae of your own group?" The discussion moved from the pros and cons of being a maknae to team dynamics, naturally shifting to the challenges faced by leaders who have guided their members for many years.
S.Coups laughed when talking about SEVENTEEN's youngest member, Dino (이찬), saying, "Even if all 12 older members treat him well, it must still be tough." He then shared his leadership philosophy: "If the oldest and youngest members both fulfill their roles well, the team seems to operate smoothly."
SEVENTEEN, with its 13 members, has maintained group operations for over 10 years, earning the admiration of the other leaders present. Some even described leading 13 people as "managing an entire elementary school class" and praised S.Coups for successfully leading the team to this point.
BOYNEXTDOOR's Jaehyun directly complimented SEVENTEEN, telling S.Coups, "For us junior idols, SEVENTEEN is like a textbook group." He specifically highlighted the group's long-term unity as a valuable lesson.
Eun Ji-won then added, "There's no single right way to lead a group, but seeing how you've done it all this time, I think your way is the right one." He further emphasized, "It's truly not easy for 13 people to stay together for over 10 years; you've done very well."
SEVENTEEN debuted in 2015 and is now in its 12th year, considered one of the representative long-running idol groups. The 13 members have maintained their complete lineup without any departures, which has become one of their most notable characteristics.
Just as everyone was praising S.Coups, Suho suddenly spoke about his own leadership journey. He confessed, "Sometimes I feel regret. I wonder if I should have led the team like S.Coups?" His words instantly changed the atmosphere. In response, senior idol Eun Ji-won offered comfort, saying, "You've always led EXO in your own way, too."
Suho's remarks garnered attention partly due to EXO's own group history. EXO debuted in 2012 with 12 members, but Kris, Luhan, and Tao subsequently left, adjusting the group's lineup to nine. Since then, members' military service and individual activities have made full-group comebacks infrequent.
In contrast, SEVENTEEN's ability to maintain its 13-member lineup and continue group activities for over 10 years naturally resonated more deeply with Suho, who is also the leader of a long-running boy group.
Therefore, Suho's comment, "Should I have led like S.Coups?" was interpreted as him admiring the junior group's collaborative model while also re-evaluating his own years of leading EXO.
As fellow leaders, Suho and S.Coups have different leadership styles. Their conversation on the show once again highlighted the long-standing responsibilities and pressures that idol group leaders bear behind the scenes.
