Welcome Back, Park Jung Soo!

ELFs, rejoice! Super Junior leader Leeteuk (real name Park Jung Soo) has been officially discharged from the army as of this morning, July 29.

Photo credit: ParkJungsu.com

Leeteuk left the camp at Injegun, Gangwondo in a black SUV, skipping the usual press interviews and public greetings. The Super Junior leader wanted to return home quietly sans the fanfare, but promises to hold an official fan meeting in the weeks to come.

Leeteuk believed to be inside that black SUV.

Welcome banner for the Super Junior leader.

Leeteuk enlisted into the army on October 30, 2012 and entered the 306th battalion in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggido. He has finally been discharged after 21 months of military service.

Welcome back, Park Jung Soo! We can't wait to see you stand on stage again!

Super Junior’s Leeteuk grateful, emotional during MoA concert.

As Super Junior wrapped up their concert in Guangzhou, China last August 26, their leader, Leeteuk, broke down in tears as he thanked the crowd.

“Haven’t come to Guangzhou in a long time, you are the ones who gave us all the love and support in the world,” said Leeteuk as he addressed the fans in attendance. “Can you wait for me for 2 years?” he asked. Sensing the emotions in his voice, the crowd began cheering, “Uljima, uljima“, a Korean phrase meaning “Don’t cry“. Even fellow member Donghae was asking Leeteuk not to cry.

“We’ve already been together for 8 years…I will return with an even more handsome image!” After saying this, Leeteuk kneeled, bowed to the crowd, and cried.

Leeteuk wipes his tears on a duck plush toy. 'Duck' is one of Leeteuk's nicknames.

Later that evening, Leeteuk sent a message to his Chinese fans via his Twitter account. His tweet read, “China ELF who have given us so much, thank you and I love you! The happiness and love that we shared today, in two years’ time I will return it even more! Xie xie!”

Xie xie means 'thank you' in Chinese.

The Guangzhou leg of the MoA Concert is Leeteuk’s last overseas stage prior to his military enlistment.

This article originally appears on Korea.com.

Fangirl Chronicles | Super Junior + Park Yoochun + Big Bang.

Amidst the brouhaha that is the Big Bang Alive Tour in Manila, the fact still stands that I am first and foremost, a Super Junior fangirl.

Today was a good day to stay at home (no classes today for the little man) and receive my shipment from YesAsia firsthand. Inside the package was my copy of Sexy, Free, and Single version B. And just my luck, I got a Teukie photocard!

My fellow Nappeun Yeoja and SuJu fangirl Liz tells me this is a sign that I should pay more attention to Teukie, who will be enlisted in the military soon. He is actually my first bias in the group, but lately I only have eyes for Siwon.

And you really can't blame me for that. I mean, look at those chocolate abs! :)

Speaking of Siwon, I finally got to watch Skip Beat, in between the currently airing Kdramas that I'm also watching (online) right now. And at last, he has found his way to SM City San Pablo, together with Donghae.

My little man is an ELF, too!

Yes, they're Bench endorsers, and from what I've heard from Mr. Ben Chan - owner and founder of Bench - the boys are coming to Manila next month.

Excited? You bet I am!!!
Must. See. Siwon. Must. Must. Must!

Picture bomb smiling from behind! Haha!

Or else I'd be singing to the tune of Sorry, Sorry, just like last January when he flew all the way to Manila without prior notice. Siwonnie, I need two weeks notice at least, arassoyo? 

Anyhoo, my Radish Doll also made it to my doorstep today. If you're a JYJ fan or have watched The Rooftop Prince, then I'm sure you know who Radish Doll is. Pig Rabbit now has someone to keep him company.

Radish Doll + Pig Rabbit = kyeopta :)

My Big Bang Alive Tour Lightstick came in today, too. And guess what? I still don't have tickets yet!

Of all the days that my internet connection had to conk out, it had to be on the first selling day of the Alive Tour tickets. Talk about irony and sheer bad luck! The VIP seats are all sold-out since Saturday night, and so are most of the Lower Boxes. Now I really have no choice but to go for the Upper Box. But not General Admission, please!

I'll see what I can do tomorrow, when I go to SM and purchase my concert tickets from here. I hope it won't be as painstaking as last Saturday, when VIPs had to stand in a queue for hours just to buy tickets for the concert.

The little man wants to watch the concert, too.

If only I could take him along, I would. And if only the ticket prices won't cost me my arm and leg! :)

Sharing with Mom and Me Monday, Blue Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Wednesday Whites, Insta-Friday.

Super Junior | Take Me to the Opera!

My boys just released 'Opera',  their third Japanese single.
And they're selling like hotcakes almost sold out at YesAsia.

I'm not surprised, actually. After all, they're the best boy group ever, IMHO. Plus Opera's MV is just so spunky!
My oh my! I can't wait for their 6th full album!

Sharing the Kpop Love! | GOOD LUCK GIVEAWAY HOP

Today may be your lucky day – so hop down and try your luck with some, or all of these giveaways!

This is the Good Luck Giveaway Hop, hosted by MamaNYC! This event will run from March 14-19th.
We have over 60+ bloggers each giving away some amazing prizes! Be sure to hop down the list when you are done with this giveaway!

For this event, I'm giving away Korean collectibles as prizes. If you haven't noticed, I have a strong affinity for anything related to Korea - be it food, gadgets, TV shows, dramas, and of course, music. Hence, I'm sharing the Kpop love to not just one, but two lucky winners!

Up for grabs are the following items. By the way, these are self-sponsored - meaning, I bought these goods so I can share them with you wholeheartedly! :)

One set (1) of Kim Hyun Joong official U:Zoosin volume 2 postcards.

One (1) Leeteuk-style Open Heart Necklace.

One winner will get the postcard set while the other will get the necklace; both will be randomly selected via Random.org.

And the best part? This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE! ELFs and Henecians from all over the globe, rejoice!

Of course, you don't have to be a Kpop fan to join this contest. For as long as you want to win the prizes, then it's good!

Let's start the fun now, shall we? Cast your entries via the Rafflecopter form below.

The Chronicles of a Super Junior Fangirl.

I've been bitten by the Hallyu bug. And its after effects are now showing. Dark undereye circles (from staying up late watching Kdrama DVDs), shortness of breath (from gushing too much at the sight of idol stars), and incomprehensible jargon (I can now speak and understand basic conversational Hangul) - all these have manifested on me. My chingus tell me it's a disease that has no cure. And true enough, it only got worst when I came to know about the best male group ever - Super Junior.

Four months ago, I chanced upon their Bonamana MV and Mr. Simple album launch while watching Arirang's Showbiz Korea segment. One look at Park Jungsu's dimple, Choi Siwon's sheepish smile, their amazing dance moves, and I was smitten. Hopelessly smitten.

Not content with just watching YouTube videos and mp3 downloads, I vowed to have all of their albums (subgroups excluded) before the year ends. Like a woman possessed, I scoured endlessly one online store after another. I even enlisted my husband to the cause, much to his chagrin. And with a fangirl's fierce determination, I was able to accomplish this goal just in time for my birthday.

From '05 to 5Jib - all three versions of them! I had the most difficulty with the second album, Don't Don. The CD + DVD version is such a rare find these days; even YesAsia had been very apologetic to me about not being able to provide me a copy even after two months of waiting. In the end, I was lucky enough to find one via Facebook.

To date, I have these titles sitting on my CD shelf. (Mr. Simple version A not included in this photo. You wouldn't be able to see the title from the side, anyway.)

The bottom most album, Victory Korea, is my most precious one. Not only is it my very first Super Junior album, but also because it's their single and Korea's theme song for the 2010 World Cup. You all know I'm a footballer, too. 

Yue has a favorite album as well. It's SJ-Trot's Rokkugo - their only album, and my only sub-group album. 

This went on sale at YesAsia for $5.99 from its original price of $16.99. Imagine my excitement when I saw the word 'sale'. LOL. 

At the moment, I'm eyeing the 2012 Diary and the SuperShow 3 DVD package. It's a good thing I can use my OC tendencies (I can't live without a planner) as an excuse to buy that diary. As for the SuperShow 3, well, there's just no excuse. You just have to have one. And I'm sure my fellow ELFs will all agree. 

Turning 30: A Super Birthday!

I just turned thirty yesterday, and becoming a year older sure has its perks.

Like getting the sweetest kisses from my little man. He sure was overly affectionate yesterday. I love it when he's all malambing like that. It's a trait he inherited obviously from his Dad. :)

Oh, and there's my husband, too. He couldn't physically be here, of course. But he did send me a very sweet text message sometime after midnight. After eight years of being together (three of those officially as his wife), the kilig factor is still there. It always had been. :)

And for someone who would get jealous - sometimes even furious - over my professed love for the best boy group in the world, my husband got me these presents. (Thanks, Daddy! You're the bestest best husband in the universe. :D)

More additions to my Super Junior collection! That's '05 (the first album), Rokkugo (SJ-T's first album), and A-Cha (the repackaged version of their 5th album). 

Now wait 'til you see my birthday cake. Birthday cupcakes, actually.

They're the most sumptuous cupcakes I have tasted by far. These are chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing and star sprinkles, personalized especially for me by Sophia's Cupcakes. They make the most awesome carrot cupcakes, too. I never really ate carrot cupcakes until I tasted the ones made by Sophia's. Hence, I'm taking this chance to thank Tita Emily and everyone at Sophia's Cupcakes for making my birthday even more special. Thank you, thank you, thank you po! :)

Special mention to my Mum, too, who hammed it up for the camera. I didn't even ask her to do that hand sign. LOL.

This is one of the rare instances when she's home for my birthday. She's a cardiac nurse in London, and she gets to come home twice a year at the very least. But sometimes her work schedules go on a haywire and her annual vacations do not always fall during the Christmas season. I'm glad she's here this time.

Many thanks also to the rest of my family, my high school barkada, my college orgmates, my work colleagues, my Facebook friends, and of course, my Nappeun Yeojas, fellow Henecians, and fellow ELFs for remembering my birthday. I am overwhelmed by all the love! ;)

Thank you for making my 30th a Super Birthday. Getting old has never been this wonderful! 

PS... I'm still accepting gifts. Haha! :D