Ever since this whole DUI-the-second-time-around disaster (or, if you're like Koreaboo, "hit-and-run") erupted into our faces, courtesy of Kangin, I've been waiting for any signs of deja vu. 

I didn't quite get that deja vu feeling I was waiting for. Yes, it's another DUI. Yes, it's Kangin again. But I remember so distinctly that when his first DUI happened, many ELFs jumped in to protect him. He was young and reckless, those ELFs said. He's young. It's normal to make mistakes. And then of course, Kangin ran off to the military, served as an active soldier and from then on until his release and subsequent return to promotions, everything seemed to be generally okay. 

Reading comments and opinions by my fellow ELFs on this second DUI, I realized that they're not. Kangin's two DUIs are not the same. 

He should've known better, especially after that first DUI. He should've known better than to drive drunk and get into a car accident, especially since his own members nearly lost their lives in a car accident. He should've known better, that netizens aren't as forgiving when an idol makes a mistake. Look at Park Bom. But here he goes, committing the same mistake for the second time. 

This second DUI is different in a sense that majority of the ELFs I've seen didn't rush to shield him or make excuses for him. The ELFs are first ones who are greatly disppointed and saddened by what happened. Yes, we are thankful that he didn't die. There's no use ignoring that possibility and this fandom will take whatever silver ligning we can to make this just a tad bit bearable. But we, as fans who love him genuinely, know that he has to be accountable for this. We want him to be accountable. We want him to finally wake up and learn his lesson. 

My biggest gratitudes and warmest hugs, though, to those ELFs who really understand that Super Junior and ELFs are family. We have such a strong bond that many other fandoms do not have. We've been through so many ups and downs for the past decade. Ohana, as Lilo and Stitch made popular. Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind. Yes, Kangin made a mistake. Yes, we believe that he has to deal with the consequences. But in a family, you don't turn your back on a member just because he made a mistake. You stay because you know he isn't a lost cause. You stay because you believe in him. You stay because you know there's good in him that can beat whatever causes him to make mistakes. You stay because you want to help and see him through this problem. You stay because you love him.

To those ELFs advocating that Kangin should be kicked out from the group or whatever 'cause he ruins the image of Super Junior, you don't know what you're talking about. And you aren't helping the situation any. 

Remember when Kangin was released from the military and Leeteuk stood there, patiently waiting, and then when he appeared, ready to face the world again, our leader opened his arms, hugged him and welcomed him back? I think that's an example worth emulating. 

Now onto the main reason why I've returned to the blogging section of AFF. 

I've been reading many comments about Leeteuk concerning this disaster. That he can and he will solve this problem. 

I'm a Leeteuk stan. He brought me into KPOP, into this fandom. When he left for his military service, I bawled my eyes out. For nearly two years, I tweeted "Day of the long wait for @special1004" up until the day he returned. I'm gonna need another blog post to full articulate what and who that man is to me. So it goes without saying that I always feel strongly when it comes to things about him.

As a stan, it's nice, you know, that the fandom has so much faith in him. He is the leader. He is the leader, the best there is (hell, many polls or whatever have been conducted and he came out on top as the best leader). Every ELF can sleep tonight knowing that he can do what he can to fix what he can. He'll do what he can to make this easier for the rest of the group to bear. He'll do what he can to make it easier for ELFs to bear.

But please do not mistake him for a magician who'll wave his proverbial wand and poof, all is well again. Please do not make the mistake of believing that Leeteuk can fix Kangin.

It's not fair for him to put that kind of expectation on his shoulders. Like I said, he'll do what he can. We know that. We've seen him do that before. We've seen him deal with a Kangin DUI before. He'll probably apologize in behalf of Kangin, in behalf of the set of brothers that Kangin is part of. He will face the netizens and the press and deal with the publicity in the best way he knows. But remember, this DUI is different. It's repeating the same mistake that you were crucified for once before. It's not having the mandatory military enlistment to hide you. It's Kangin not learning from mistakes of the past, getting himself drunk, crashing his car into a lamppost and fleeing the scene.

Do not put the expectation on Leeteuk that he can and will fix this whole problem. You're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Leeteuk can apologize. But it won't really matter unless it's Kangin. 

Leeteuk can promise that Super Junior will work harder and show a better image and whatever. But it won't matter unless it's Kangin himself who works harder, changes and shows a better image of himself. 

If there's anyone who can fix this, especially the root cause of it, it's Kangin. Only Kangin.