In 2021, Super Junior released their 10th Korean studio album, The Renaissance, on March 16, 2021, fronted by singles "The Melody" and "House Party". On February 14, 2022, Label SJ announced that the group will release a single album as "welcome gift" for fans at home and abroad by capturing Super Junior's unique musical world. The release date for The Road: Winter for Spring was confirmed two days later, scheduled to be released on February 28. "Callin'" was announced as the lead single of the single album alongside the teaser music video few days later.
On the 22nd, more details of "Callin'" were announced: the song lies within pop rock genre, and written by long-time contributor, Kenzie, who was also the producer of the song. For the next two days, the label continues to release teaser images and teaser for the music video. An interview video was uploaded on the 25th, where the members introduced the track and commenting on its production. The single was released with its music video, in tandem with the single album on the 28th.
Composition
"Callin'" is described as a pop rock song that was written, composed, arranged, and produced by long-time contributor Kenzie. She previously wrote the group's previous hits such as "No Other", "Opera", and "Devil". Rolling Stone India labeled the song as an alternative rock ballad.
The song was composed in the key of C Major with the tempo of 160 BPM. Built on delicate and "beautiful" melody, the lyrics narrate the characters do not want to miss a single day of love.
Member Siwon introduced the track as "an absolutely wonderful song", while Ryeowook recounted how the members instantly loved the song when they heard the demo. Leader Leeteuk mentioned how the song warms his heart, with Heechul adding that the fans can listen to the song during winter or spring.
Kenzie instructed Leeteuk to sing with more gravelly voice and remove the emotions, which he ended up recording in an indie band manner.
Music video
Two music videos were released for the song. The "Winter for Spring" version featured an animation, while the "Winter" did not. The video shows a man who locks himself in a room of his heart with a woman waiting for him outside of the room, as the season changes.
During a radio interview with Kim Shin-young on MBC FM4U, Shindong initially thought the storyboard was awkward with the animations and its back and forth, before liking how it eventually turned out.
Live performances
Super Junior debuted "Callin'" live on stage for the first time during their March 3 appearance on M Countdown. It was performed on Show! Music Core and Inkigayo afterwards.
The song was later featured in the setlist of their Super Show 9: Road world concert tour.
↑Ye-na, Kim (February 14, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 1년 만에 스페셜 싱글로 컴백[Super Junior makes a comeback with a special single after 1 year]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
↑Kim, Ji-so (February 16, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 싱글 '더 로드: 윈터 포 스프링' 28일 발매[Super Junior's single 'The Road: Winter for Spring' will be released on the 28th]. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
↑Jeon, Hyo-jin (February 18, 2022). 슈퍼주니어 동해·이특·예성, 포근 감성 티저 공개[Super Junior East Sea, Eteuk, Yesung release a teaser for a warm feeling]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
↑Park, Seo-yeon (February 22, 2022). 슈퍼주니어 은혁·희철·신동, 'Callin' 티저 공개..겨울과 봄 사이 짙은 서정美[Super Junior's Eunhyuk, Heechul, and Shindong release teaser for 'Callin'... Deep lyrical beauty between winter and spring]. Herald Corporation (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
↑Ji, Seung-hoon (February 24, 2022). 슈주 규현·시원·려욱까지 9人 티저 공개...감성 눈빛[Shuju Kyuhyun, Siwon, and Ryeowook released a teaser for 9 people... Emotional Eyes]. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Kim, Na-yul (February 22, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 'Callin' MV 촬영장 인터뷰 공게.."따뜻한 봄 맞이하길"[Super Junior Interviews on the Set of 'Callin' MV.." May you welcome a warm spring"]. Herald Muse (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Kim, Min-ji (February 28, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 오늘 스페셜 싱글 '더 로드: 윈터 포 스프링' 발매[Super Junior releases special single 'The Road: Winter For Spring' today]. News1 (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Jung, Hye-yeon (February 28, 2022). [팝's신곡]"너만 사랑할게"..슈퍼주니어, 놓치고 싶지 않은 사랑 '콜린'[[Pop's New Song] "Only You Will Love You"... Super Junior, the love you don't want to miss 'Callin']. Herald Muse (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Yoo, Byung-cheol (February 25, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 신곡 'Callin' M/V 촬영장 인터뷰 공개…명불허전 티키타카 '훈훈'[Super Junior releases interview on the set of the new song 'Callin' M/V... Undisputed tiki-taka Hunhoon]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Kim, Myung-mi (February 25, 2022). 슈퍼주니어 '신곡' 'Callin' 더할 나위 없이 멋진 곡…마음 따뜻해져”[Super Junior: "New song 'Callin'" is a wonderful song... warming my heart"]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
12Lee, Yeon-sil (March 4, 2022). 이특 "'콜린', 켄지 누나 요청으로 감정 빼고 선우정아 씨 느낌으로 덤덤하게 불러" (정희)[Lee Teuk "'Colin'" is sung at Kenji's sister's request without emotion and sings like Sun Jeong-ah" (Jung Hee)]. iMBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Lee, Jae-hoon (February 28, 2022). 슈퍼주니어, 오늘 스페셜싱글 '더 로드: 윈터 포 스프링'[Super Junior, today's special single 'The Road: Winter for Spring']. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Kim, Na-yul (March 3, 2022). '엠카' 슈퍼주니어, Callin 무대 최초 공개..1년 만의 컴백['Mka' Super Junior unveils Callin stage for the first time... Comeback after 1 year]. Herald Muse (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑'음중' 슈퍼주니어, 퍼포먼스 없이 목소리만으로 ‘콜린’ 컴백 무대 채웠다['Umjung' Super Junior filled the stage of 'Colin' comeback with only his voice without a performance]. MBC (in Korean). March 5, 2022. Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
↑Hong, Se-young (March 6, 2022). "너만 사랑할게" 슈퍼주니어 감미로운 무대 (인기가요)["Only You" Super Junior's sweet stage (Inkigayo)]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
