In June 2012, SM Entertainment announced that Kangin would re-join Super Junior for the group's sixth album, Sexy, Free & Single which was released online on July 1 and in stores on July 4, 2012. SM released the MV for Sexy, Free & Single on July 3. The Version B of album was released on July 16, having only a different cover. On August 7, Super Junior released the repackage album for Sexy, Free & Single called SPY, including four new songs "SPY", "Outsider", "Only U" composed by Leeteuk and "Haru" composed by Donghae. The MV was released on August 13.
Super Junior 6th Album Sexy, Free & Single managed to rank high in iTunes in several countries including Australia, France, Peru and Japan. It also ranked 3rd on Billboard World Albums. The album debuted at 1st place on the South Korean Gaon Chart, selling 335,744 copies in one month. Staying on the chart as 1st place for three weeks in a row, 459,182 copies have been sold in only two months (July - August). Furthermore, Sexy, Free & Single also debuted at 1st on "Hanteo Chart" with more than 200,000 copies sold in one month become the first group to do so far this year. Super Junior rank 1st place on Hanteo's "Top 5 K-Pop Artists" 2012 winning Hanteo "Singer Award" and also rank 1st place in Hanteo "Album Award" 2012 also winning this award.
Sexy, Free & Single was placed 1st for several weeks on Taiwan KKBOX KPOP chart having all album songs charted. The Japanese version of this song, which was released on August 22, has sold over 118,902 units making the single gold certified.
Super Junior were nominated for "Best Asian Act" in MTV Europe Music Awards showing one more time their popularity around world. On October Super Junior won "Teen Style Icon" award in Style Icon Awards and on November they also won the "Best Artist Group Award" the 19th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards. On November 30, Super Junior attended the Mnet Asian Music Awards where they won three awards, "Album of the Year", "Best Global Group - Male" and "Best Line Award", being the second year in row that Super Junior wins "Album of the Year".Their Super Show 4 3D movie was awarded with "Work of Art Award" at the International 3D Festival being the only singer together with Glam winning an award. On January 15 Super Junior won "Disk Daesang" at 27th Golden Disk Awards, being the 3rd "Disk Daesang" that Super Junior has won, and the second in a row (winning in 2011 for "Mr Simple").
Super Junior announced their world tour in February 2013. "The World Tour, Super Show 5" began in March starting with Seoul. The group will then go to China, Japan, South America, and Europe.
