The long journey of TVXQ to JYJ...happiness at last?

JYJ? Who? Who are they? This is often been asked by some of my friends who are big K-Drama fans but they do not know who is JYJ Group? Believe it or not, even though they have split up from their ever popular boy band TVXQ (original members Chang Min and Yunho) but still JYJ remains strong among their fans.

 For those who do not know who TVXQ or shall I call them DBSK (Dong Bang Shin Ki)- they were the biggest boy band in South Korea attracting millions of fans hitting the Guiness Record. It started out when SM Entertainment scouted these 5 young talented boys- leader/rapper U-Know Yunho, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, Xiah Junsu and Max Changmin. Yunho and Junsu were the best dancers in the group. Yoochun was the only member who could speak English as he was in USA for a while, Jaejoong has the pretty boy look yet with a nice raspy voice, Changmin is witty as ever being the youngest yet he is pretty good at acting. They came out with their hit albums from Rising Sun to O-Jung Ban Hap and Mirotic selling well in the charts of Asia. 

They ventured out to Japan and hit the Oricon chart gathering more Japanese fans labelling them as Tohoshinki or better known as Gods of Asia. Then come the shattering news when members Jaejoong, Junsu and Yoochun filed a law suit against SM Entertainment arguing that the lengthy contract and unequal profits distribution which was proving disadvantage to the members. 

The Seoul Central District Court in October 2009 ruled in their favor affirming their right to independently engage in entertainment activities and granted them injunction suspending the SM contracts; its ruling emphatically pointed out it was a "subjugating contract" with terms that are grossly incompatible with Korean labor and contract law. (courtesy of Wikipedia)

The trio formed a group JYJ under C-Jes Entertainment but were given limited chances from performing in 3 major broadcasting stations. Partly blamed on SM! There on, JYJ launched their global album The Beginning collaborating with international artists and performing in worldwide. Later they released their Korean album titled 'In Heaven' with actress Song Ji Hyo(who is also the same C-Jes Ent.) as the main lead in the Music Video alongside with Junsu.

This hasn't stopped them from going further. JYJ became the Lotte Duty Free shopping mall ambassadors joining with Hallyu goddess, Choi Ji Woo, Song Seung Hun, Jang Geun Suk, Big Bang, 2PM, Hyun Bin and the late singer Park Yong Ha in the main advertisement. JYJ were on big CFs and adverts for skincare Nature Republic, Naver LINE, clothesline NII and appointed as honorary ambassadors for the 2014 Asian Games. Looking at their career wise- JYJ were better off in their own terms. Jaejoong has finished 3 dramas- Protect the Boss with Ji Sung, Dr.Jㅑn with Song Seung Hun and Triangle with Lee Bum Soo & Im Si Wan. Yoo Chun was the first ever to star in dramas such as Sungkyunkwan Scandal that hit huge fame along with Park Min Yeung, Rooftop Prince with Han Ji Min, I Miss You with Yoon Eun Hye and 3 Days with Park Ha Sun. Junsu being the only one who hasn't done any dramas except appearing as a cameo famous singer in Scent of a Woman with Kim Sun Ah & Lee Dong Wook. 

Junsu's popularity has sky-rocketed with his hit musicals such as Mozart, Elizabeth, December, Tears of Heaven and Dracula. He has continuously won awards for Best Musical Actor and Popularity Award as well. We wish them all the best in their career and good health to them. JYJ Fighting! 화이띵!!!