TVXQ
Encyclopedia
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi (traditional Chinese: ;), is a South Korean pop
group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment
. In South Korea
they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (Korean
: ), often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (Japanese
: 東方神起) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone
in 2005. Their name translates as "The Rising Gods of the East".
The group debuted in 2003 as a 5 member group consisting of Yunho (leader), Changmin, Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. In July 2009, the latter three filed for an injunction against their Korean agency SM Entertainment
. This led to TVXQ ceasing all public activities and appearances after 2009. After approximately a year on hiatus, TVXQ has returned as a duo consisting of Yunho and Changmin.
TVXQ is one of Asia's most successful acts and has been labelled as "Asia's Stars" and "Kings of the Hallyu Wave" for its immense success and contributions to Korean pop. Since their debut, TVXQ has released 5 Korean albums, 5 Japanese albums, over 20 Korean singles and over 30 Japanese singles. According to Gaon Chart
, TVXQ has sold over 9.1 million copies throughout their career in Korea and Japan alone, excluding sales from other Asian and international countries. They have two official fanclubs in Korea and Japan, known respectively as Cassiopeia
and BigEast, the former which notably earned a Guinness World Record in 2008 for its size, and is said to be one of the largest fan clubs in the world.
TVXQ have topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 9 times with the release of "Keep Your Head Down
" in Japan. It is the second single since Oricon inaugurated searching for sales in 1968 that a single by a foreign artist gathered more than 200,000 copies in the first week. The initial occurrence happened in 2009, when TVXQ sold 256,000 units of “Break Out!”. "Keep Your Head Down
" signifies TVXQ’s 9th chart-topper, expanding their record for most number-one singles topped in Oricon Weekly Singles Chart by a foreign artist.
TVXQ’s The Best Selection 2010
has broken several records for being the first foreign male artists to pass over the 700,000 mark in Japan.
In 2011, TVXQ returned as a duo with the release of their Korean pop album Keep Your Head Down
. Their full-length Japanese album TONE
was released on September 28, 2011, selling 205,000 copies in its first week and reaching 1# on the Daily, Weekly and Monthly Oricon Charts.
was not aesthetically pleasing, and the name was changed to Dong Bang Shin Gi, which was suggested by Lee Soo Man
's acquaintance.
TVXQ made their debut on December 26, 2003 during a BoA
and Britney Spears
showcase, where they performed their debut single "Hug" and an a cappella
rendition of "O Holy Night
" with BoA. The group released their debut single "Hug" on January 14, 2004; it peaked at #4 on the monthly charts and sold a total of 169,532 copies, making it the fourteenth best-selling record of the year.Unlike in other countries, South Korea's charts, supplied by the Music Industry of Korea, only publish monthly and yearly rankings. All rankings for Korean records in this article refer to the monthly charts and all rankings for Japanese records refer to the Oricon
's weekly charts unless otherwise stated. Their second single, "The Way U Are" (July 2004), debuted at #2 spot on the charts, becoming the ninth best-selling-record of the year, selling 214,069 copies. TVXQ released their debut album, Tri-Angle (October 2004). Tri-angle debuted atop the charts and sold a total of 242,580 copies, making it the year's eighth best-selling record.
In April 2005, TVXQ debuted in Japan under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone
with the single "Stay with Me Tonight". They released their second Japanese single, "Somebody to Love", before returning to Korea and releasing their second Korean album Rising Sun. Rising Sun debuted atop the charts and became the fourth best-selling-record of 2005 with a total of 222,472 copies sold. TVXQ ended the year with two releases: their third Japanese single, "My Destiny", and a Korean single with label-mate Super Junior
, "Show Me Your Love". The latter debuted atop the charts and sold 49,945 copies, making it the thirty-fifth best-selling record of the year. At the end of the year, TVXQ received the Best Music Video award for the song "Rising Sun" and the People's Choice Award at the 2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival.
. The album debuted on the weekly Oricon
album chart at #25 with 9,554 copies sold. Their fifth Japanese single, "Rising Sun/Heart, Mind and Soul", released a month later, debuted on the Oricon singles chart at #22. To support the album, TVXQ held their first Japanese tour, 1st Live Tour 2006: Heart, Mind and Soul, from May to June. TVXQ released two more Japanese singles, "Begin" and "Sky". The latter debuted at #6, making it the group's first single to reach the Top Ten. In the summer, TVXQ performed in Avex's annual A-Nation summer concert.
The group resumed their Korean activities with the release of their third album, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. ("O"-正.反.合. lit. "O"-Thesis.Antithesis.Synthesis
) in September 2006. Like their previous Korean albums, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. debuted atop the charts; with a total of 349,317 copies sold, it became the number-one record of the year. Two months after "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap, the group released another Japanese single, , which debuted on the chart at #3, making it their first Top Five single. At the 2006 MKMF Music Festival, TVXQ won four awards, "Best Artist of the Year", "Best Group", "Mnet.com" and "Mnet Plus Mobile People's Choice Award". At the 16th Music Seoul Festival, TVXQ won three awards including a "Daesang" award. The group won another "Daesang" award at the 21st Golden Disk Awards 2006, in addition to a "Bonsang". At the SBS Gayo Awards 2006, TVXQ won another "Daesang" and "Bonsang" award.
TVXQ began 2007 with a new Japan
ese single, "Step By Step", which was followed by their second Asian tour, The 2nd Asia Tour Concert 'O. The tour took place in Seoul
, Taipei
, Bangkok
, Kuala Lumpur
, Shanghai
and Beijing
. In March, the group released their tenth Japanese single, "Choosey Lover", and their second Japanese album, Five in the Black. Both debuted in the Top 10 of their respective charts, the former at #9 and the latter at #10. In May, the group attended the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and won the "Best Buzz Asia in Korea" award for their album "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. From June to December 2007, the group released a string of five singles: "Lovin' You
", "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice", "Shine / Ride On
", "Forever Love
" and "Together
". "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice" reached #2 on the Oricon, making it the group's highest-charting Japanese single to that point. TVXQ also collaborated with label-mate Kumi Koda
for her thirty-eighth single "Last Angel
", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of Resident Evil: Extinction
.
", on January 16, 2008. It debuted atop the Oricon, becoming the group's first number-one in Japan and making them the first foreign male group to have a number-one single in Japan. They then released their third Japanese album, T
, which debuted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly album chart. TVXQ's label Rhythm Zone
, announced the "Trick" project where five singles would be released consecutively for six weeks, from February to March and each single would contain a solo track by a member. The group released their twenty-second single, "Beautiful You / Sennen Koi Uta" in April. The single became another number-one for the group and made them the first non-Japanese Asians with two number-one singles since Ou-Yang Fei Fei set the record 24 years before. They returned to Korea to participate in the 14th Annual Dream Concert at the Olympic Stadium
in Seoul on June 7. On June 12, TVXQ concluded their Asia Tour in Beijing which had begun on February 23, 2007 in Seoul. TVXQ returned to Japan and released their twenty-third single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?" The single topped the chart, making TVXQ the first foreign artists to have three number-one singles on the Oricon. They performed at
Avex's 20th anniversary meeting and at A-Nation '08. In August, TVXQ returned to Korea once again to take part in SMTown Live '08
. They performed alongside label-mates BoA, Cheon Sang Ji Hee the Grace, Zhang Liyin, Girls' Generation
, SHINee
and Super Junior
.
The group's fourth Korea
n album, Mirotic
, was slated to be released on September 24 but due to the large number of pre-order
s was pushed back two days. Like their previous Korean album, Mirotic debuted atop the charts with 307,974 copies sold. In early January 2009, the album's sales totaled 502,837 copies, making it the first Korean album in six years to pass the 500,000 mark. In October, TVXQ released "Jumon: Mirotic
", the Japanese version of Mirotics title track. The single topped the Oricon chart, breaking the record that the group had set with their previous single. TVXQ attended the prestigious Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Music Festival on New Year's Eve
, making them the first Korean group to attend. The honor of performing on Kohaku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-POP artists and enka singers can perform. Even today, a performance on Kohaku is said to be a big highlight in a singer’s career because of the show’s large reach.
Their twenty-fifth single "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide
", released in January 2009, became another number-one for the group. In March, TVXQ released their twenty-sixth single "Survivor
" which debuted at #3 on the charts subsequently ending their number-one streak. "Survivor" was followed by their fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code
, which debuted at #2 on the charts. To support the album they embarked on their fourth concert tour, Tohoshinki 4th Live Tour 2009: The Secret Code, which ended at the Tokyo Dome
, making them the first Korean group to perform there.
On April 22, 2009, they released their twenty-seventh single "Share the World/We Are!
". The single debuted atop the charts, extending their Oricon record. Their twenty-eighth single, "Stand by U
", was released on July 1, 2009 and debuted at #2 on the charts.
The group's live DVD titled "4th Live Tour 2009 - The Secret Code - Final in Tokyo Dome" was released on September 30. According to the 10/12 Oricon DVD Ranking, it sold more than 171,000 copies, their personal best for sales in this category on the first week of its release. In a month, The Secret Code has sold over 300,000 copies. In addition, this is the first time in twenty years for a non-Japanese Asian artist to get first place in the DVD rankings, exceeding previous foreign artists who have attained this ranking included The Beatles
' "The Beatles Anthology (Special Price Edition Edition)" which was released in March 2003 and Led Zeppelin
's "Led Zeppelin DVD", which was released in June 2003 and have held that position for foreign artist getting first for 6 years and 3 months since. Also, based on the sale numbers of their DVD, they broke their personal record by pre-selling 107,000 copies. Their previous records include their 3rd Live Tour 2008 - T which was released in August 2008 and was last recorded as having sold 112,000 copies, and All About DBSK Season 3 which sold 66,000 copies so far. This time, their DVD sold more than twice that amount with a total sales of 353,000 copies and broke the record for the highest initial sales for foreign artists.
", released on January 27, 2010, which created a new record for the group. The single topped the Oricon, selling 256,000 copies in its first week and breaking Elton John
's record for the highest first week sales for a foreign artist, which had lasted for 14 years and 8 months. In February, the group was chosen to sing the opening song "With All My Heart -君が踊る、夏-" for the Japanese movie "君が踊る、夏 / Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu", which hit the screens in September 2010. On March 24, 2010, TVXQ released a new single called "Toki o Tomete
". TVXQ Japanese album, The Best Selection surpassed the 500,000 mark, achieving double platinum on February. On March, The Best Selection has transcended the 700,000 mark, becoming their best sale in Japan. TVXQ also became the first foreign boy band and also the first foreign male artists to sell over 700,000 albums.
On April 3, 2010, Avex announced the hiatus of TVXQ's Japanese activities and that it would focus on helping each member with their solo activities. Avex announced later that month that Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu would appear as (JYJ
) in the Thanksgiving Live in Dome concert in Japan.
From August to September 2010, Yunho and Changmin performed as TVXQ in Seoul
, Los Angeles
and Shanghai
as part of the SMTown Live '10 World Tour
.
announced that TVXQ would be returning as a duo consisting of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin
in early 2011. On November 24, 2010, Avex Entertainment, as well as SM Entertainment Japan, released a statement regarding the renewal of SM artists' contracts with Avex, including TVXQ who would continue as a duo under Avex Trax
. TVXQ's newest album, Keep Your Head Down
, was released in South Korea on January 5, 2011 and ranked at No. 1 on the Gaon Chart
two weeks after release. Gaon Chart
's half-year sales chart ranked TVXQ's album Keep Your Head Down
as the highest selling album of the year to date, with a total of 230,922 copies sold from January to June 2011. In addition, the repackaged album of Keep Your Head Down ranked number 9 on the same chart and sold 55,243 copies, making the total sales 286,185.
Their Japanese single "Why? (Keep Your Head Down)," released by Avex Trax
in Japan on January 26, 2011, sold 231,000 copies in the first week being released and reached No. 1 on the Oricon singles daily, weekly, and monthly charts. On July 20, the duo released the Japanese single "Superstar," which sold over 172,000 copies and was certified Gold by month's end.
TVXQ performed in A-Nation 2011 after their long two year hiatus in Japan. A-nation made its way through five cities, Ehime, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo. During the live concert in Tokyo, TVXQ unexpectedly became the first foreign artist to become A-Nation's "Big Bird," or the ending performer. The honor had previously gone to Ayumi Hamasaki
for every A-nation concert for the past 8 years.
From September 2-4, 2011, U-Know
and Max
participated in SMTOWN Live In Tokyo
, along with fellow labelmates, at the Tokyo Dome
, performing past hits "Rising Sun", "Mirotic", "Superstar", "Keep Your Head Down
", as well as their new track " B.U.T (BE-AU-TY)".
In preparation for the release of their first Japanese album in 2.5 years, the full music video for "B.U.T (BE-AU-TY)
" (one of the singles off the album) was released through various sites on September 19. TVXQ's new full-length Japanese album, Tone
, was released on September 28. Selling 105,484 copies on the day of its release and over 205,000 copies by week's end, the album ranked #1 on Oricon Daily and Weekly Charts, and #1 on Oricon October Monthly Chart. It is TVXQ's first full-length album to secure the #1 Oricon Weekly and Monthly positions. TONE has also earned RIAJ's Platinum certification within two weeks of its Japanese release, and broke an 11-year long record for being the first male foreign artist to sell over 200,000 copies of an album in its first week of release in Japan (previously held by Bon Jovi in 2000). According to RIAJ's calculations of album sales from January 1st to September 30th, TVXQ surpassed the 250,000 mark, and achieved the Platinum certification in just three days of release.
In September, TVXQ gained interest for signing a "friendship contract" with French fashion brand Lacoste, the first ever such partnership Lacoste has made with Korea. TVXQ will be officially promoting Lacoste towards the end of this year.
TVXQ joined many of Korea's top singers to perform at the 2011 Hallyu Dream Concert at Gyeongju Citizens’ Stadium on October 3, where they performed songs "Maximum" and "Keep Your Head Down" from their new album. It was the closing event for Gyeonju’s three-day Hallyu Dream Festival, organized by the city of Gyeongju, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote the “Visit Korea Year.” Live coverage of the concert was aired on On October 6th by Mnet (TV channel)
.
On October 9 TVXQ participated in the “New York-Korea Festival", a specially planned program by KBS Global to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Korea’s entry into the United Nations. It was held in New Jersey and the live performances were recorded and broadcast on October 22 on KBS2 TV.
As part of SMTOWN Live In New York
, TVXQ performed in the SMTown Concert in New York at the legendary Madison Square Garden on October 23 alongside label-mates including SNSD, Super Junior, SHINEE, BoA and Kangta. They performed a mix of past and present songs from their most recent Korean album, opening their act with a medley of "The Way You Are"/"Mirotic", "Maximum", "Before U Go", "Keep Your Head Down" and ending with "Rising Sun".
TVXQ was also the closing act at the 2011 K-pop Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, presented by JK Entertainment on November 12, where they performed songs from their latest Korean album, "Maximum", "Before U Go" and "Keep Your Head Down".
Their new Japanese single 'Winter Rose' is scheduled for release on November 30, and is described as a pearly ballade song fit for the winter season. It was selected as the commercial song for Seven & i Holdings’s “Winter Gift – Tohoshinki (Snow Episode)”, with TVXQ themselves as actors, which begun airing on November 8. It is the fourth commercial of Seven & i Holdings to feature TVXQ in 2011.
TVXQ will be launching their first solo tour in Japan in nearly four years this coming January 2012. The TONE ~ TVXQ Live Tour 2012 is scheduled to cover 14 shows throughout 9 cities in Japan over the course of 3 months. Tickets to the tour were sold out in under one minute. Due to this overwhelming demand, six additional stops were added to the tour schedule which was announced on TVXQ's official Japanese website.
On NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen official website, TVXQ is said to be confirmed as one of the performers for the 62nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, the most prestigious award show in Japan. From this official announcement, TVXQ is the only Korean group that has performed there 3 times in a row. TVXQ alongside with other Korean groups, KARA and SNSD will attend the award show on 31st December 2011, New Year's Eve.
, R&B, electronica
, acapella, ballad and their brand of K-pop
. In Japan, the music that they are known for is, dance
, electronica
, R&B. Their song Mirotic is a heavy-urban dance song with other genres like electropop and synthpop
. Their first and second Korean albums have included Rap rock
. The main rappers in TVXQ are U-Know Yunho and Micky Yoochun, and Hero Jaejoong also rapped in the song Wrong Number and Xiah Junsu rapped in "Love By Love" written and composed by Micky Yoochun. They have done two rap rock songs with Korean rock band The TRAX. The Korean album Mirotic had genres of electronic
, dance
, ballad
and had more heavy urban songs and less ballads from other albums, R&B songs had elements of dance-pop
.
wrote the Korean lyrics for "Love in the Ice", Micky wrote and composed Sarang Annyeong Sarang (Love Bye Love) (사랑 안녕 사랑), and Xiah wrote Noeur Baraboda (Picture of You) (노을..바라보다). For their third Asia tour concert "Mirotic", U-know wrote and composed for his solo, "Checkmate".
For their third Japanese album, T, Micky wrote and co-composed the song with Hero. Micky also wrote the lyrics for his solo, "My Girlfriend", for the second single in the Trick project, Runaway/My Girlfriend. Xiah composed his solo track, "Rainy Night", for the third single in the Trick project. Hero wrote and co-composed and Micky wrote and composed "Kiss the Baby Sky". Both songs were included on their twenty-fifth single, "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", as the last two A-sides. The songs later appeared on their fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code, along with the song "9095", which was composed by Hero.
For their 5th Korean album Keep Your Head Down
[2011], the song 고백(Confession) is a ballad that Max
wrote the lyric for and performed solo.
Korean compilation albums
Japanese studio albums
Japanese compilation albums
agreed to make a clean version but also had filed an injunction to overrule the commission's decision
After the Commission of Youth Protection released their statement regarding the ban on the album, SM Entertainment said,
TVXQ performed the clean version at the 23rd Annual Golden Disk Awards. The lyrics were changed from "I got you" to "I chose you" and "I got you under my skin" to "I got you under my sky."
In March 2009, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of SM Entertainment, stating:
On April 9, 2009, the Commission of Youth Protection announced they would appeal the ruling to a high court after having an emergency meeting and deeming that the phrase, "I got you under my skin", was inappropriate for minors.
, Micky
, and Xiah
—submitted an application to the Seoul Central District Court to determine the validity of their contract with SM Entertainment
. Through their lawyers, the members stated that the 13-year contract was excessively long, schedules were held out without the confirmation or permission of the members, contract terms have been extended and changed without their knowledge or consent and that the group's earnings were not fairly distributed to the members. Early termination penalty of their contract will cost them twice the profit that the group is estimated to earn for SM Entertainment the rest of the contract period. The news was enough to cause SM Entertainment's stock price to drop over 10% on the KOSPI
.
The Seoul Central District Court granted the three members a temporary contract injunction in October 2009 and stated that SM cannot interfere with their invididual activities but also that they can only act as members of TVXQ through SM Entertainment. The members have claimed that the contract was unfair and they were left out of proper profit distribution. In response, SM Entertainment called a press conference and claimed that the lawsuit was not about unfair contracts or human rights, but motivated by the three members’ greed to pursue their cosmetics business uninhibited by the restrictions their exclusive contract with SM bound them with. SM submitted a complaint on criminal misdemeanour charges against the cosmetics company Crebeau, however it was never brought to court by the prosecutor on grounds of insufficient evidence. The three replied that they hoped SM Entertainment would respect the court’s decision.
In response to the lawsuit, 120,000 TVXQ fans filed a petition against SM Entertainment’s long-term contracts to the Seoul District Court. TVXQ's Korean fanclub Cassiopeia, also filed for compensation from SM Entertainment for the cancelled SM Town Live Concert, as both SM and TVXQ initially stated that the concert would go on as planned; the concert was cancelled a week before its scheduled date.
Currently, the main lawsuit to validate/invalidate the three members' contract with SM Entertainment is still ongoing.
s Anycall
, sportswear Fila
, and Oronamin C. Some of their songs have even been used as theme songs for television shows, commercials and motion pictures;For a complete list of the commercial tie-ins of TVXQ's songs, see their discography. such as One Piece
, Chevrolet
and Subaru.
In 2011, the newly reformed TVXQ duo have landed lucrative endorsement deals in Korea with brands such as Nike
, The Shilla Duty Free, Pepsi NEX Zero, Missha, Seven & i Holdings
and most recently with Lacoste. In Japan, they have endorsed 7-Eleven
products, featuring their Japanese single "Superstar" in the CFs, and Seibu Silver
card, featuring their song "I Don't Know."
Tourism Corporation launched the "See My L.A." campaign. TVXQ, along with label-mate BoA, became the spokespeople for the campaign. Since April 2007, TVXQ host their own weekly radio program, TVXQ Bigeastation on the Japan FM Network. On March 28, 2008, TVXQ were chosen as the "Goodwill Ambassador for Asia" by Universal Studios Japan in order to further promote the attractions of the USJ. TVXQ were also chosen to be the new faces for the Lotte duty-free shop
, due to their popularity throughout Asia. TVXQ acted on SBS
show, Banjun Theater
and they had their own television show, Vacation, that ran for four episodes.
, together with NEOWIZ Internet Corporation, Ltd, released an iPhone
application which features TVXQ's repackage album, "Keep Your Head Down". The app can be purchased for free on iTunes.
for having the world's largest official fan club. Cassiopeia
, the band's official Korean fan club
, claimed to have more than 800,000 official members just in South Korea, BigEast their official Japanese fanclub with more than 500,000 official members in Japan and more than 500,000 international fans (iCassies). Cassiopeia also made the Guinness World Records a second time in 2009. Aside from having the world's largest fan club, the group was also listed as the most photographed celebrities in the world. From the day of their debut to March 19, 2009, the five members are estimated to have been photographed about 500 million times in magazines, albums jackets, and commercials, etc. The total figure includes individual photos as well as group pictures.
In terms of awards, TVXQ is also the only artist in SM Entertainment to win two Golden Disk Daesang of Physical Album Sales, whereas Girl's Generation, and Super Junior only won one Daesang of Physical Album Sales. TVXQ is the first foreign artists to win twice in a row in Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's most prestigious stage show. They are also the first foreign boy band to have an album surpass the 700,000 mark in Japan. In the Oricon History, TVXQ is the first foreign artist to have 10 Oricon Chart toppers.
2009: The 3rd Asia Tour Mirotic
Japan Nationwide tours
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
. In South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (Korean
Korean
Korean typically refers to the Korean language or a Korean person.Other uses include:* any or all of the cultures of Korea: traditional culture or North or South Korean contemporary cultures...
: ), often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (Japanese
Japanese
Japanese refers to anything that originates in Japan, an island country in East Asia. Used as a noun, it may also refer to:* Foreign-born Japanese, naturalized citizens of Japan...
: 東方神起) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone
Rhythm Zone
is a record label in the Avex Records Group which releases all kinds of urban contemporary Japanese music.-History:The label was founded in 1999 by Max Matsuura to address the need for a new urban music label, signing M-Flo as its first artist, then followed by Exile.In 2000, Koda Kumi was signed...
in 2005. Their name translates as "The Rising Gods of the East".
The group debuted in 2003 as a 5 member group consisting of Yunho (leader), Changmin, Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. In July 2009, the latter three filed for an injunction against their Korean agency SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
. This led to TVXQ ceasing all public activities and appearances after 2009. After approximately a year on hiatus, TVXQ has returned as a duo consisting of Yunho and Changmin.
TVXQ is one of Asia's most successful acts and has been labelled as "Asia's Stars" and "Kings of the Hallyu Wave" for its immense success and contributions to Korean pop. Since their debut, TVXQ has released 5 Korean albums, 5 Japanese albums, over 20 Korean singles and over 30 Japanese singles. According to Gaon Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
, TVXQ has sold over 9.1 million copies throughout their career in Korea and Japan alone, excluding sales from other Asian and international countries. They have two official fanclubs in Korea and Japan, known respectively as Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (TVXQ)
Cassiopeia is the official Korean fan club name of the Korean singing group, TVXQ . Its counterpart in Japan is BigEast. Cassiopeia is the biggest and largest fan club in Korea, with over 800,000 supporters. Members go to their concerts, give the band members birthday gifts and cheer them with red...
and BigEast, the former which notably earned a Guinness World Record in 2008 for its size, and is said to be one of the largest fan clubs in the world.
TVXQ have topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 9 times with the release of "Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
" in Japan. It is the second single since Oricon inaugurated searching for sales in 1968 that a single by a foreign artist gathered more than 200,000 copies in the first week. The initial occurrence happened in 2009, when TVXQ sold 256,000 units of “Break Out!”. "Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
" signifies TVXQ’s 9th chart-topper, expanding their record for most number-one singles topped in Oricon Weekly Singles Chart by a foreign artist.
TVXQ’s The Best Selection 2010
Best Selection 2010
Best Selection 2010 is the first Japanese greatest hits album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on February 17, 2010 in Japan by their label Rhythm Zone in three editions: a 2CD+DVD version, a CD+DVD version and a CD version.-Track list:...
has broken several records for being the first foreign male artists to pass over the 700,000 mark in Japan.
In 2011, TVXQ returned as a duo with the release of their Korean pop album Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
. Their full-length Japanese album TONE
Tone (TVXQ album)
TONE is the fifth Japanese studio album of South Korean boy band Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011 under Avex Trax in Japan...
was released on September 28, 2011, selling 205,000 copies in its first week and reaching 1# on the Daily, Weekly and Monthly Oricon Charts.
2003–2005: Debut, Tri-angle and Rising Sun
Before their debut, the group was offered three tentative names: O Jang Yukbu ( lit. The Five Visceras), Jeonseoleul Meokgo Saneun Gorae ( lit. A Whale That Eats Legends), and Dong Bang Bul Pae . They decided on Dong Bang Bul Pae; however the name was rejected because the HanjaHanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
was not aesthetically pleasing, and the name was changed to Dong Bang Shin Gi, which was suggested by Lee Soo Man
Lee Soo Man
Lee Soo Man is a South Korean entrepreneur and the founder & chairman of S.M. Entertainment Co.,Ltd. Group, which includes two subsidiaries specializing in K-pop groups....
's acquaintance.
TVXQ made their debut on December 26, 2003 during a BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
and Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
showcase, where they performed their debut single "Hug" and an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
rendition of "O Holy Night
O Holy Night
"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" with BoA. The group released their debut single "Hug" on January 14, 2004; it peaked at #4 on the monthly charts and sold a total of 169,532 copies, making it the fourteenth best-selling record of the year.Unlike in other countries, South Korea's charts, supplied by the Music Industry of Korea, only publish monthly and yearly rankings. All rankings for Korean records in this article refer to the monthly charts and all rankings for Japanese records refer to the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
's weekly charts unless otherwise stated. Their second single, "The Way U Are" (July 2004), debuted at #2 spot on the charts, becoming the ninth best-selling-record of the year, selling 214,069 copies. TVXQ released their debut album, Tri-Angle (October 2004). Tri-angle debuted atop the charts and sold a total of 242,580 copies, making it the year's eighth best-selling record.
In April 2005, TVXQ debuted in Japan under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone
Rhythm Zone
is a record label in the Avex Records Group which releases all kinds of urban contemporary Japanese music.-History:The label was founded in 1999 by Max Matsuura to address the need for a new urban music label, signing M-Flo as its first artist, then followed by Exile.In 2000, Koda Kumi was signed...
with the single "Stay with Me Tonight". They released their second Japanese single, "Somebody to Love", before returning to Korea and releasing their second Korean album Rising Sun. Rising Sun debuted atop the charts and became the fourth best-selling-record of 2005 with a total of 222,472 copies sold. TVXQ ended the year with two releases: their third Japanese single, "My Destiny", and a Korean single with label-mate Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
, "Show Me Your Love". The latter debuted atop the charts and sold 49,945 copies, making it the thirty-fifth best-selling record of the year. At the end of the year, TVXQ received the Best Music Video award for the song "Rising Sun" and the People's Choice Award at the 2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival.
2006–2007: Heart, Mind and Soul and "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.
TVXQ began 2006 with their first international tour, "Rising Sun 1st Asia Tour". In addition to South Korea, they toured in China, Thailand, and Malaysia, making them the first Korean performers to hold a concert in Malaysia. In March, the group released their fourth Japanese single, , and their debut Japanese album, Heart, Mind and SoulHeart, Mind and Soul (TVXQ album)
-CD + DVD version:-Release history:-Oricon sales charts :-Korea yearly foreign albums & singles:-Singles:-External links:* http://toho-jp.net/index.html...
. The album debuted on the weekly Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
album chart at #25 with 9,554 copies sold. Their fifth Japanese single, "Rising Sun/Heart, Mind and Soul", released a month later, debuted on the Oricon singles chart at #22. To support the album, TVXQ held their first Japanese tour, 1st Live Tour 2006: Heart, Mind and Soul, from May to June. TVXQ released two more Japanese singles, "Begin" and "Sky". The latter debuted at #6, making it the group's first single to reach the Top Ten. In the summer, TVXQ performed in Avex's annual A-Nation summer concert.
The group resumed their Korean activities with the release of their third album, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. ("O"-正.反.合. lit. "O"-Thesis.Antithesis.Synthesis
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis
The triad thesis, antithesis, synthesis is often used to describe the thought of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Hegel never used the term himself, and almost all of his biographers have been eager to discredit it....
) in September 2006. Like their previous Korean albums, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. debuted atop the charts; with a total of 349,317 copies sold, it became the number-one record of the year. Two months after "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap, the group released another Japanese single, , which debuted on the chart at #3, making it their first Top Five single. At the 2006 MKMF Music Festival, TVXQ won four awards, "Best Artist of the Year", "Best Group", "Mnet.com" and "Mnet Plus Mobile People's Choice Award". At the 16th Music Seoul Festival, TVXQ won three awards including a "Daesang" award. The group won another "Daesang" award at the 21st Golden Disk Awards 2006, in addition to a "Bonsang". At the SBS Gayo Awards 2006, TVXQ won another "Daesang" and "Bonsang" award.
TVXQ began 2007 with a new Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese single, "Step By Step", which was followed by their second Asian tour, The 2nd Asia Tour Concert 'O. The tour took place in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. In March, the group released their tenth Japanese single, "Choosey Lover", and their second Japanese album, Five in the Black. Both debuted in the Top 10 of their respective charts, the former at #9 and the latter at #10. In May, the group attended the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and won the "Best Buzz Asia in Korea" award for their album "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. From June to December 2007, the group released a string of five singles: "Lovin' You
Lovin' You (TVXQ song)
"Lovin' You" is Tohoshinki's 11th Japanese single, released on June 13, 2007. This single triggered the rising presence of the Korean group in the Japanese music industry, with the highest sales since their debut in Japan.-Live performances:...
", "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice", "Shine / Ride On
SHINE / Ride On
"Shine/Ride On" is Tohoshinki's 13th Japanese single. The single was released on September 19, 2007. The single debuted at #2 only behind Ayumi Hamasaki's single Talkin' 2 Myself which outsold it by 36,634 copies...
", "Forever Love
Forever Love (TVXQ song)
"Forever Love" is Tohoshinki's 14th Japanese single. The single was released on November 14, 2007.-CD:# Forever Love# Day Moon: ハルダル# Forever Love # Forever Love # Day Moon: ハルダル -Release history:...
" and "Together
Together (TVXQ song)
"Together" is Tohoshinki's 15th Japanese single. It was released on December 19, 2007 and debuted at #2 on the Oricon Daily Charts, ending as #3 overall for the week...
". "Summer: Summer Dream/Song for You/Love in the Ice" reached #2 on the Oricon, making it the group's highest-charting Japanese single to that point. TVXQ also collaborated with label-mate Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda
, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
for her thirty-eighth single "Last Angel
Last Angel
"Last Angel" is Kumi Koda's 38th single and is a collaboration with Korean boyband Tohoshinki which was released on November 7, 2007 in Japan.The B-side "Dear Family" is solo, and is a love ballad. "Last Angel" was used as the image song to the Japanese release of the movie Resident Evil:...
", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Extinction is a Canadian-British 2007 science fiction action horror film also categorized as a doomsday and zombie film, and is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil...
.
2008–2009: Continued success in Japan and
Mirotic TVXQ released their sixteenth Japanese single, "Purple LinePurple Line (song)
"Purple Line" is Tohoshinki's 16th Japanese single, written by the Korean composer who made TVXQ's biggest hits in Korea such as Rising Sun and "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. It became Tohoshinki's first Japanese single to reach #1 on the Oricon Weekly sales chart in Japan, making the group the first foreign...
", on January 16, 2008. It debuted atop the Oricon, becoming the group's first number-one in Japan and making them the first foreign male group to have a number-one single in Japan. They then released their third Japanese album, T
T (TVXQ album)
-CD + DVD version:-2 CD + 2 DVD version:-Release history:-Oricon sales charts :-Korea foreign albums & singles chart:-Singles included in album:-External links:* http://toho-jp.net/index.html...
, which debuted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly album chart. TVXQ's label Rhythm Zone
Rhythm Zone
is a record label in the Avex Records Group which releases all kinds of urban contemporary Japanese music.-History:The label was founded in 1999 by Max Matsuura to address the need for a new urban music label, signing M-Flo as its first artist, then followed by Exile.In 2000, Koda Kumi was signed...
, announced the "Trick" project where five singles would be released consecutively for six weeks, from February to March and each single would contain a solo track by a member. The group released their twenty-second single, "Beautiful You / Sennen Koi Uta" in April. The single became another number-one for the group and made them the first non-Japanese Asians with two number-one singles since Ou-Yang Fei Fei set the record 24 years before. They returned to Korea to participate in the 14th Annual Dream Concert at the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Seoul)
The Seoul Olympic Stadium, aka Jamsil Olympic Stadium is located in Seoul, South Korea. It was the main stadium was built for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 10th Asian Games in 1986...
in Seoul on June 7. On June 12, TVXQ concluded their Asia Tour in Beijing which had begun on February 23, 2007 in Seoul. TVXQ returned to Japan and released their twenty-third single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?" The single topped the chart, making TVXQ the first foreign artists to have three number-one singles on the Oricon. They performed at
Avex's 20th anniversary meeting and at A-Nation '08. In August, TVXQ returned to Korea once again to take part in SMTown Live '08
SMTown Live '08
SM Town Live 2008 is the 2008-2009 Asia-wide live concert tour by SM Town. The tour kicked off from South Korea and will expand its route to Thailand and China.- History :SM Town is the name for the artists under Korean record label SM Entertainment...
. They performed alongside label-mates BoA, Cheon Sang Ji Hee the Grace, Zhang Liyin, Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
, SHINee
SHINee
Shinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
and Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
.
The group's fourth Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n album, Mirotic
Mirotic
-Version B:-Version C:-Version D:-Japan Release Version:-Promotional singles:* "주문-Mirotic * "Wrong Number" -Release history:...
, was slated to be released on September 24 but due to the large number of pre-order
Pre-order
A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came when people found it hard to get popular items in stores due to their popularity. Companies were then given the idea to allow people to reserve their own personal copy, before the release, ...
s was pushed back two days. Like their previous Korean album, Mirotic debuted atop the charts with 307,974 copies sold. In early January 2009, the album's sales totaled 502,837 copies, making it the first Korean album in six years to pass the 500,000 mark. In October, TVXQ released "Jumon: Mirotic
Jumon: Mirotic
is TVXQ's 24th Japanese single, released on October 15, 2008. The song is the Japanese version of the title track of the group's fourth Korean album, Mirotic. The single became the group's fifth single to reach the number one position on the Oricon Daily charts...
", the Japanese version of Mirotics title track. The single topped the Oricon chart, breaking the record that the group had set with their previous single. TVXQ attended the prestigious Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
Music Festival on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, making them the first Korean group to attend. The honor of performing on Kohaku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-POP artists and enka singers can perform. Even today, a performance on Kohaku is said to be a big highlight in a singer’s career because of the show’s large reach.
Their twenty-fifth single "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide
Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide
is Tohoshinki's 25th Japanese single, released on January 21, 2009. Bolero was the theme song for the Japanese movie, "". The movie is named after the ballerina lead named Subaru, which released on March 20, 2009. Tohoshinki made their debut screen on Subaru...
", released in January 2009, became another number-one for the group. In March, TVXQ released their twenty-sixth single "Survivor
Survivor (TVXQ song)
"Survivor" is Tohoshinki's twenty-sixth Japanese single. The single was released on March 11, 2009, and peaked at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart...
" which debuted at #3 on the charts subsequently ending their number-one streak. "Survivor" was followed by their fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code
The Secret Code (album)
-Bonus Tracks and Editions:-Charts:-Chart precession and succession:-External links:*...
, which debuted at #2 on the charts. To support the album they embarked on their fourth concert tour, Tohoshinki 4th Live Tour 2009: The Secret Code, which ended at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
, making them the first Korean group to perform there.
On April 22, 2009, they released their twenty-seventh single "Share the World/We Are!
Share the World/We Are!
-Chart:-External links:*...
". The single debuted atop the charts, extending their Oricon record. Their twenty-eighth single, "Stand by U
Stand by U
"Stand by U" is South Korean pop group TVXQ's twenty-eighth Japanese language single. "Stand by U" was released on July 1, 2009 by their label Rhythm Zone and was released in two formats: CD and CD+DVD.-Background:...
", was released on July 1, 2009 and debuted at #2 on the charts.
The group's live DVD titled "4th Live Tour 2009 - The Secret Code - Final in Tokyo Dome" was released on September 30. According to the 10/12 Oricon DVD Ranking, it sold more than 171,000 copies, their personal best for sales in this category on the first week of its release. In a month, The Secret Code has sold over 300,000 copies. In addition, this is the first time in twenty years for a non-Japanese Asian artist to get first place in the DVD rankings, exceeding previous foreign artists who have attained this ranking included The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "The Beatles Anthology (Special Price Edition Edition)" which was released in March 2003 and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Led Zeppelin DVD", which was released in June 2003 and have held that position for foreign artist getting first for 6 years and 3 months since. Also, based on the sale numbers of their DVD, they broke their personal record by pre-selling 107,000 copies. Their previous records include their 3rd Live Tour 2008 - T which was released in August 2008 and was last recorded as having sold 112,000 copies, and All About DBSK Season 3 which sold 66,000 copies so far. This time, their DVD sold more than twice that amount with a total sales of 353,000 copies and broke the record for the highest initial sales for foreign artists.
2010: Japanese activities and hiatus
TVXQ started out the year with their twenty-ninth single, "Break Out!Break Out!
"Break Out!" is TVXQ's 29th Japanese single, released in Japan on January 27, 2010 by Avex Group's sublabel Rhythm Zone. It was later included in their first Japanese compilation album, Best Selection 2010...
", released on January 27, 2010, which created a new record for the group. The single topped the Oricon, selling 256,000 copies in its first week and breaking Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's record for the highest first week sales for a foreign artist, which had lasted for 14 years and 8 months. In February, the group was chosen to sing the opening song "With All My Heart -君が踊る、夏-" for the Japanese movie "君が踊る、夏 / Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu", which hit the screens in September 2010. On March 24, 2010, TVXQ released a new single called "Toki o Tomete
Toki o Tomete
is a song by Korean boyband Tohoshinki. It was released as Tohoshinki's 30th Japanese single, as a re-cut from their greatest hits album Best Selection 2010, on .It is the last song of TVXQ as a five member group under the management of SM Entertainment...
". TVXQ Japanese album, The Best Selection surpassed the 500,000 mark, achieving double platinum on February. On March, The Best Selection has transcended the 700,000 mark, becoming their best sale in Japan. TVXQ also became the first foreign boy band and also the first foreign male artists to sell over 700,000 albums.
On April 3, 2010, Avex announced the hiatus of TVXQ's Japanese activities and that it would focus on helping each member with their solo activities. Avex announced later that month that Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu would appear as (JYJ
JYJ
JYJ is a three-member pop group, formed by three members of the South Korean boyband TVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their group name is taken from the first letters of each members' names....
) in the Thanksgiving Live in Dome concert in Japan.
From August to September 2010, Yunho and Changmin performed as TVXQ in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
as part of the SMTown Live '10 World Tour
SMTown Live '10 World Tour
SM Town Live 2010 is the 2010-2011 world-wide live concert tour by SM Town. The tour kicks off from South Korea and will expand its route to USA, Japan, China, France etc.- History :...
.
2011-Present: Return as duo, Keep Your Head Down and TONE
On November 23, 2010, SM EntertainmentSM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
announced that TVXQ would be returning as a duo consisting of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin
Max (singer)
Shim Changmin also known as Max , Choikang Changmin in South Korea, Changmin in Japan, and Shen Changmin in China and Taiwan, is a Korean singer, songwriter and occasional actor best known as one-half of South Korean musical duo TVXQ...
in early 2011. On November 24, 2010, Avex Entertainment, as well as SM Entertainment Japan, released a statement regarding the renewal of SM artists' contracts with Avex, including TVXQ who would continue as a duo under Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
. TVXQ's newest album, Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
, was released in South Korea on January 5, 2011 and ranked at No. 1 on the Gaon Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
two weeks after release. Gaon Chart
Gaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
's half-year sales chart ranked TVXQ's album Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
as the highest selling album of the year to date, with a total of 230,922 copies sold from January to June 2011. In addition, the repackaged album of Keep Your Head Down ranked number 9 on the same chart and sold 55,243 copies, making the total sales 286,185.
Their Japanese single "Why? (Keep Your Head Down)," released by Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
in Japan on January 26, 2011, sold 231,000 copies in the first week being released and reached No. 1 on the Oricon singles daily, weekly, and monthly charts. On July 20, the duo released the Japanese single "Superstar," which sold over 172,000 copies and was certified Gold by month's end.
TVXQ performed in A-Nation 2011 after their long two year hiatus in Japan. A-nation made its way through five cities, Ehime, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo. During the live concert in Tokyo, TVXQ unexpectedly became the first foreign artist to become A-Nation's "Big Bird," or the ending performer. The honor had previously gone to Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
for every A-nation concert for the past 8 years.
From September 2-4, 2011, U-Know
U-Know
Jung Yunho , better known by his stage names, U-Know, U-Know Yunho and , is a Korean singer and occasional actor. He is the leader of the South Korean boyband and now duo TVXQ.-Early life:...
and Max
Max (singer)
Shim Changmin also known as Max , Choikang Changmin in South Korea, Changmin in Japan, and Shen Changmin in China and Taiwan, is a Korean singer, songwriter and occasional actor best known as one-half of South Korean musical duo TVXQ...
participated in SMTOWN Live In Tokyo
SMTown Live '10 World Tour
SM Town Live 2010 is the 2010-2011 world-wide live concert tour by SM Town. The tour kicks off from South Korea and will expand its route to USA, Japan, China, France etc.- History :...
, along with fellow labelmates, at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
, performing past hits "Rising Sun", "Mirotic", "Superstar", "Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down (song)
"Keep Your Head Down" is a song performed by South Korean duo TVXQ, released in South Korea as a digital single in January 2011 as the lead single from the duo's album of the same name, and was later re-released in Japanese as the duo's thirty-first single in Japan, released on January 26, 2011 by...
", as well as their new track " B.U.T (BE-AU-TY)".
In preparation for the release of their first Japanese album in 2.5 years, the full music video for "B.U.T (BE-AU-TY)
Tone (TVXQ album)
TONE is the fifth Japanese studio album of South Korean boy band Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011 under Avex Trax in Japan...
" (one of the singles off the album) was released through various sites on September 19. TVXQ's new full-length Japanese album, Tone
Tone (TVXQ album)
TONE is the fifth Japanese studio album of South Korean boy band Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011 under Avex Trax in Japan...
, was released on September 28. Selling 105,484 copies on the day of its release and over 205,000 copies by week's end, the album ranked #1 on Oricon Daily and Weekly Charts, and #1 on Oricon October Monthly Chart. It is TVXQ's first full-length album to secure the #1 Oricon Weekly and Monthly positions. TONE has also earned RIAJ's Platinum certification within two weeks of its Japanese release, and broke an 11-year long record for being the first male foreign artist to sell over 200,000 copies of an album in its first week of release in Japan (previously held by Bon Jovi in 2000). According to RIAJ's calculations of album sales from January 1st to September 30th, TVXQ surpassed the 250,000 mark, and achieved the Platinum certification in just three days of release.
In September, TVXQ gained interest for signing a "friendship contract" with French fashion brand Lacoste, the first ever such partnership Lacoste has made with Korea. TVXQ will be officially promoting Lacoste towards the end of this year.
TVXQ joined many of Korea's top singers to perform at the 2011 Hallyu Dream Concert at Gyeongju Citizens’ Stadium on October 3, where they performed songs "Maximum" and "Keep Your Head Down" from their new album. It was the closing event for Gyeonju’s three-day Hallyu Dream Festival, organized by the city of Gyeongju, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote the “Visit Korea Year.” Live coverage of the concert was aired on On October 6th by Mnet (TV channel)
Mnet (TV channel)
Mnet is a music television channel in South Korea owned by CJ Group.-Television programs:* Superstar K* M! Countdown* 2NE1 TV* MUST* Kara Bakery* Wonder Bakery* Girls' Generation Goes to School...
.
On October 9 TVXQ participated in the “New York-Korea Festival", a specially planned program by KBS Global to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Korea’s entry into the United Nations. It was held in New Jersey and the live performances were recorded and broadcast on October 22 on KBS2 TV.
As part of SMTOWN Live In New York
SMTown Live '10 World Tour
SM Town Live 2010 is the 2010-2011 world-wide live concert tour by SM Town. The tour kicks off from South Korea and will expand its route to USA, Japan, China, France etc.- History :...
, TVXQ performed in the SMTown Concert in New York at the legendary Madison Square Garden on October 23 alongside label-mates including SNSD, Super Junior, SHINEE, BoA and Kangta. They performed a mix of past and present songs from their most recent Korean album, opening their act with a medley of "The Way You Are"/"Mirotic", "Maximum", "Before U Go", "Keep Your Head Down" and ending with "Rising Sun".
TVXQ was also the closing act at the 2011 K-pop Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, presented by JK Entertainment on November 12, where they performed songs from their latest Korean album, "Maximum", "Before U Go" and "Keep Your Head Down".
Their new Japanese single 'Winter Rose' is scheduled for release on November 30, and is described as a pearly ballade song fit for the winter season. It was selected as the commercial song for Seven & i Holdings’s “Winter Gift – Tohoshinki (Snow Episode)”, with TVXQ themselves as actors, which begun airing on November 8. It is the fourth commercial of Seven & i Holdings to feature TVXQ in 2011.
TVXQ will be launching their first solo tour in Japan in nearly four years this coming January 2012. The TONE ~ TVXQ Live Tour 2012 is scheduled to cover 14 shows throughout 9 cities in Japan over the course of 3 months. Tickets to the tour were sold out in under one minute. Due to this overwhelming demand, six additional stops were added to the tour schedule which was announced on TVXQ's official Japanese website.
On NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen official website, TVXQ is said to be confirmed as one of the performers for the 62nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, the most prestigious award show in Japan. From this official announcement, TVXQ is the only Korean group that has performed there 3 times in a row. TVXQ alongside with other Korean groups, KARA and SNSD will attend the award show on 31st December 2011, New Year's Eve.
Music style
TVXQ's music style, in Korea they perform hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, R&B, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, acapella, ballad and their brand of K-pop
K-pop
K-pop is a musical genre consisting of electropop, hip hop, pop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea...
. In Japan, the music that they are known for is, dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, R&B. Their song Mirotic is a heavy-urban dance song with other genres like electropop and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
. Their first and second Korean albums have included Rap rock
Rap rock
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
. The main rappers in TVXQ are U-Know Yunho and Micky Yoochun, and Hero Jaejoong also rapped in the song Wrong Number and Xiah Junsu rapped in "Love By Love" written and composed by Micky Yoochun. They have done two rap rock songs with Korean rock band The TRAX. The Korean album Mirotic had genres of electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
and had more heavy urban songs and less ballads from other albums, R&B songs had elements of dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
.
Lyrics and composition
Although the composition and writing of songs were handled by staff in their early years, TVXQ gradually began to produce their own compositions and lyrics. On their second Korean album, Rising Sun, Micky, U-Know, and Xiah wrote the rap lyrics to "Love After Love". For the third Korean album, "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap., Micky wrote the English rap lyrics to "Phantom Hwanyeong" and Xiah wrote and composed "Nae Gyeote Sumsiur Su Ittdamyeon (White Lie)" (네 곁에 숨쉴 수 있다면). For their second Asia tour concert "O", U-know wrote and composed for his solo, "Spokesman" (feat. Donghae from Super Junior). Their fourth Korean album, Mirotic, saw an increase in the members' participation: Hero wrote and composed Saranga Uljima (Don't Cry My Lover) (사랑아 울지마), MaxMax (singer)
Shim Changmin also known as Max , Choikang Changmin in South Korea, Changmin in Japan, and Shen Changmin in China and Taiwan, is a Korean singer, songwriter and occasional actor best known as one-half of South Korean musical duo TVXQ...
wrote the Korean lyrics for "Love in the Ice", Micky wrote and composed Sarang Annyeong Sarang (Love Bye Love) (사랑 안녕 사랑), and Xiah wrote Noeur Baraboda (Picture of You) (노을..바라보다). For their third Asia tour concert "Mirotic", U-know wrote and composed for his solo, "Checkmate".
For their third Japanese album, T, Micky wrote and co-composed the song with Hero. Micky also wrote the lyrics for his solo, "My Girlfriend", for the second single in the Trick project, Runaway/My Girlfriend. Xiah composed his solo track, "Rainy Night", for the third single in the Trick project. Hero wrote and co-composed and Micky wrote and composed "Kiss the Baby Sky". Both songs were included on their twenty-fifth single, "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", as the last two A-sides. The songs later appeared on their fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code, along with the song "9095", which was composed by Hero.
For their 5th Korean album Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
[2011], the song 고백(Confession) is a ballad that Max
Max (singer)
Shim Changmin also known as Max , Choikang Changmin in South Korea, Changmin in Japan, and Shen Changmin in China and Taiwan, is a Korean singer, songwriter and occasional actor best known as one-half of South Korean musical duo TVXQ...
wrote the lyric for and performed solo.
Discography
Korean studio albums- Tri-angle (2004)
- Rising Sun (2005)
- "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (2006)
- MiroticMirotic-Version B:-Version C:-Version D:-Japan Release Version:-Promotional singles:* "주문-Mirotic * "Wrong Number" -Release history:...
(2008) - Keep Your Head DownKeep Your Head DownKeep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on January 5, 2011 in Korea as a special edition and on the January 14, 2011 as a normal edition. A repackaged version of the album was released on March 16, 2011 with a new track called 이것만은 알고 가...
(2011)
Korean compilation albums
- Christmas Gift from Dong Bang Shin Gi (2004)
Japanese studio albums
- Heart, Mind and SoulHeart, Mind and Soul (TVXQ album)-CD + DVD version:-Release history:-Oricon sales charts :-Korea yearly foreign albums & singles:-Singles:-External links:* http://toho-jp.net/index.html...
(2006) - Five in the Black (2007)
- TT (TVXQ album)-CD + DVD version:-2 CD + 2 DVD version:-Release history:-Oricon sales charts :-Korea foreign albums & singles chart:-Singles included in album:-External links:* http://toho-jp.net/index.html...
(2008) - The Secret CodeThe Secret Code (album)-Bonus Tracks and Editions:-Charts:-Chart precession and succession:-External links:*...
(2009) - ToneTone (TVXQ album)TONE is the fifth Japanese studio album of South Korean boy band Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011 under Avex Trax in Japan...
(2011)
Japanese compilation albums
- Best Selection 2010Best Selection 2010Best Selection 2010 is the first Japanese greatest hits album by Korean boy band TVXQ. It was released on February 17, 2010 in Japan by their label Rhythm Zone in three editions: a 2CD+DVD version, a CD+DVD version and a CD version.-Track list:...
(2010)
Lyrics of Mirotic
In November 2008, the Korean Commission of Youth Protection ruled that Mirotic was detrimental to youths and declared that the lyrics were provocative and overly sexual. As a result, the album was labeled with stickers indicating that it was unsuitable for people under 19 years old and any performances of the song would have to be broadcast after 10 PM. In response to the ruling, SM EntertainmentSM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
agreed to make a clean version but also had filed an injunction to overrule the commission's decision
After the Commission of Youth Protection released their statement regarding the ban on the album, SM Entertainment said,
TVXQ performed the clean version at the 23rd Annual Golden Disk Awards. The lyrics were changed from "I got you" to "I chose you" and "I got you under my skin" to "I got you under my sky."
In March 2009, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of SM Entertainment, stating:
On April 9, 2009, the Commission of Youth Protection announced they would appeal the ruling to a high court after having an emergency meeting and deeming that the phrase, "I got you under my skin", was inappropriate for minors.
Lawsuit against SM Entertainment
On July 31, 2009, three of the members—HeroHero (singer)
Kim Jaejoong , also known by his stage name Hero, is a Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and director....
, Micky
Micky (singer)
Park Yoochun , better known by his stage names, Micky, Micky Yoochun and , is a Korean singer-songwriter, composer, and occasional actor. He was a member of South Korean boy band TVXQ, known as Dong Bang Shin Ki in South Korea and Tohoshinki in Japan...
, and Xiah
Xiah
Kim Junsu , also known by his stage name Xiah , is a South Korean singer-songwriter, composer and occasional actor...
—submitted an application to the Seoul Central District Court to determine the validity of their contract with SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
. Through their lawyers, the members stated that the 13-year contract was excessively long, schedules were held out without the confirmation or permission of the members, contract terms have been extended and changed without their knowledge or consent and that the group's earnings were not fairly distributed to the members. Early termination penalty of their contract will cost them twice the profit that the group is estimated to earn for SM Entertainment the rest of the contract period. The news was enough to cause SM Entertainment's stock price to drop over 10% on the KOSPI
KOSPI
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or KOSPI is the index of all common stocks traded on the Stock Market Division—previously, Korea Stock Exchange—of the Korea Exchange....
.
The Seoul Central District Court granted the three members a temporary contract injunction in October 2009 and stated that SM cannot interfere with their invididual activities but also that they can only act as members of TVXQ through SM Entertainment. The members have claimed that the contract was unfair and they were left out of proper profit distribution. In response, SM Entertainment called a press conference and claimed that the lawsuit was not about unfair contracts or human rights, but motivated by the three members’ greed to pursue their cosmetics business uninhibited by the restrictions their exclusive contract with SM bound them with. SM submitted a complaint on criminal misdemeanour charges against the cosmetics company Crebeau, however it was never brought to court by the prosecutor on grounds of insufficient evidence. The three replied that they hoped SM Entertainment would respect the court’s decision.
In response to the lawsuit, 120,000 TVXQ fans filed a petition against SM Entertainment’s long-term contracts to the Seoul District Court. TVXQ's Korean fanclub Cassiopeia, also filed for compensation from SM Entertainment for the cancelled SM Town Live Concert, as both SM and TVXQ initially stated that the concert would go on as planned; the concert was cancelled a week before its scheduled date.
Currently, the main lawsuit to validate/invalidate the three members' contract with SM Entertainment is still ongoing.
Endorsements
Due to their popularity TVXQ have been sought by various brands to endorse their products. TVXQ has advertised many products on television such as SamsungSamsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
s Anycall
Anycall
Anycall is a South Korean mobile phone brand established by Samsung Electronics in 1993. Like other mobile phone brands in South Korea, they provide technology such as cameras, internet access, and digital TV through Digital Multimedia Broadcasting.Samsung mobile phones are sold through the...
, sportswear Fila
Fila (company)
Fila is one of the world's largest sportswear manufacturing companies. Founded in 1911 in Italy, Fila has been owned and operated from South Korea since a takeover in 2007. Headed by chairman and CEO Yoon-Soo Yoon, Fila now has offices in 11 countries worldwide....
, and Oronamin C. Some of their songs have even been used as theme songs for television shows, commercials and motion pictures;For a complete list of the commercial tie-ins of TVXQ's songs, see their discography. such as One Piece
One Piece
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
, Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
and Subaru.
In 2011, the newly reformed TVXQ duo have landed lucrative endorsement deals in Korea with brands such as Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, The Shilla Duty Free, Pepsi NEX Zero, Missha, Seven & i Holdings
Seven & I Holdings Co.
is a diversified retail group headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Founded originally in 1920 as Ito-Yokado, Seven & I is now the fifth largest retailer in the world, with 35,000 stores in approximately 100 countries.-History:...
and most recently with Lacoste. In Japan, they have endorsed 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
products, featuring their Japanese single "Superstar" in the CFs, and Seibu Silver
Sogo & Seibu
is a Japanese retail company that operates 4 retail franchises: Loft, Robinson Department Store, Sogo, and Seibu Department Stores. It is a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Co.....
card, featuring their song "I Don't Know."
Other activities
In 2005, the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Tourism Corporation launched the "See My L.A." campaign. TVXQ, along with label-mate BoA, became the spokespeople for the campaign. Since April 2007, TVXQ host their own weekly radio program, TVXQ Bigeastation on the Japan FM Network. On March 28, 2008, TVXQ were chosen as the "Goodwill Ambassador for Asia" by Universal Studios Japan in order to further promote the attractions of the USJ. TVXQ were also chosen to be the new faces for the Lotte duty-free shop
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
, due to their popularity throughout Asia. TVXQ acted on SBS
SBS (Korea)
Seoul Broadcasting System is a national South Korean television and radio network. It is the only private commercial broadcaster with a wide regional Network to operate in the country. On March 17, 2009, the company legally became known as SBS, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting...
show, Banjun Theater
Banjun Theater
Banjun Theater was a 7 episode project TV show by South Korean boy band TVXQ for SBS in 2006. Like other banjuns, each episode consists of a twist ending.-Tokyo Holiday:...
and they had their own television show, Vacation, that ran for four episodes.
Other Media
On 5 April 2011, S.M. EntertainmentS.M. Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
, together with NEOWIZ Internet Corporation, Ltd, released an iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
application which features TVXQ's repackage album, "Keep Your Head Down". The app can be purchased for free on iTunes.
Awards and achievements
In 2008, TVXQ made it in the Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for having the world's largest official fan club. Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (TVXQ)
Cassiopeia is the official Korean fan club name of the Korean singing group, TVXQ . Its counterpart in Japan is BigEast. Cassiopeia is the biggest and largest fan club in Korea, with over 800,000 supporters. Members go to their concerts, give the band members birthday gifts and cheer them with red...
, the band's official Korean fan club
Fan club
A fan club is a group that is dedicated to a well-known person, group, idea or sometimes even an inanimate object . Most fan clubs are run by fans who devote considerable time and resources to supporting them. There are also "official" fan clubs that are run by someone associated with the person...
, claimed to have more than 800,000 official members just in South Korea, BigEast their official Japanese fanclub with more than 500,000 official members in Japan and more than 500,000 international fans (iCassies). Cassiopeia also made the Guinness World Records a second time in 2009. Aside from having the world's largest fan club, the group was also listed as the most photographed celebrities in the world. From the day of their debut to March 19, 2009, the five members are estimated to have been photographed about 500 million times in magazines, albums jackets, and commercials, etc. The total figure includes individual photos as well as group pictures.
In terms of awards, TVXQ is also the only artist in SM Entertainment to win two Golden Disk Daesang of Physical Album Sales, whereas Girl's Generation, and Super Junior only won one Daesang of Physical Album Sales. TVXQ is the first foreign artists to win twice in a row in Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's most prestigious stage show. They are also the first foreign boy band to have an album surpass the 700,000 mark in Japan. In the Oricon History, TVXQ is the first foreign artist to have 10 Oricon Chart toppers.
Concerts and tours
Asia tours- 2006: The 1st Asia Tour Rising Sun
- 2007-2008:
Japan Nationwide tours
- 2006: Tohoshinki 1st Live Tour 2006: Heart, Mind and Soul
- 2007: Tohoshinki 2nd Live Tour 2007: Five in the Black
- 2008: Tohoshinki 3rd Live Tour 2008: T
- 2009: Tohoshinki 4th Live Tour 2009: The Secret Code
- 2012: Tohoshinki 5th Live Tour 2012: Tone
External links
- Official Korean website (Works best with Internet Explorer)
- Official Japanese website