Micky Yoochun's manager booked for assaulting a fan

TVXQ singer-turned-actor Micky Yoochun at a recent press conference for upcoming TV series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" [Asia Economic Daily]

TVXQ singer Micky Yoochun's manager, who was recently accused of abusing an underage female fan, has been booked on charges of assault.

"This is a simple assault case and we have decided to book manager Park without physical detention," a police officer at West Hwaseong Police Station who is handling the case told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Thursday. "We are planning to hold a supplementary investigation soon and then wrap up the case."

U-Know Yunho racks up ticket sales for musical "Goong"

Official poster for musical "Goong" [Group 8]

Fans rushed to grab tickets for the upcoming musical production of “Goong,” featuring singer and actor U-Know Yunho, according to Korean production company Group 8 on Friday.

Group 8 announced in a press release that tickets for the show starring U-know Yunho sold out in less than two minutes after they went on sale on reservation site Interpark at 9 p.m. last night. Tickets for shows starring other male leads Kim Dong-ho and RUN recorded high sales as well.

Photos from new Micky Yoochun drama revealed

Korean singer and actor Micky Yoochun of idol group TVXQ in a behind-the-scenes photo from the set of upcoming TV series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" [KBS2]

Singer Micky Yoochun is readying to make his official acting debut as an old-time scholar, as revealed in the behind-the-scenes photos from the set of upcoming TV series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal."

TVXQ to release special Japanese album on July 15

Korean boy band TVXQ [SM Entertainment]

Korean idol group TVXQ will be releasing a special Japanese DVD album on July 15, according to Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Sports on Wednesday.

Sankei reported that the group, despite having halted all group activities, will release a special album in DVD format with highlights from the upcoming Japanese film "Kimi Ga Odoru, Natsu" which also includes an advance ticket for the movie.

Xiah Junsu rushed to ER in LA over weekend

Xiah Junsu [Asia Economic Daily]

Singer Xiah Junsu was rushed to the emergency room of a hospital in Los Angeles over the weekend due to a high fever and exhaustion, according to a source close to the actor.

"Xiah Junsu was hospitalized at an emergency ward in Koreatown in L.A. around 2 p.m. on Sunday (Korea time)," the official said, explaining the 23-year-old had shown symptoms of suffering from a slight cold which had gradually developed into a fever reaching over 40 degrees Celcius.

"His body stabilized however, after receiving emergency treatment," the official reassured. He added that Xiah, as well as Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoonchun were advised to take two days of break from recording their new album.

The three singers, embroiled in a legal battle with major Korean talenthouse SM Entertainment, have formed a new trio away from their original band TVXQ with Japanese agency AVEX.

They have been in the United States to record the album set to be produced by prominent U.S. musicians Kanye West and Timbaland.

TVXQ has halted all activities as a five-man band with Xiah, Hero and Micky applying for provisional disposition of their 13-year contract with SM last July. Just last week, they filed a lawsuit against SM, demanding they be confirmed their contract had been nullified as well as be handed their share of profits they claim to have failed to receive.

SM too has sued the three singers for the damages the agency and the remaining two members, U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin, have suffered from the legal battle.

Since their 2004 debut, TVXQ, discovered and managed by SM, had arguably been one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia with reportedly the largest fanbase in the world.

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TVXQ members file 3 bln lawsuit against SM

From left, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu [SM Entertainment]

Three members of boy band TVXQ, namely Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, have filed a lawsuit worth three billion won, equivalent to nearly 2.5 million dollars, against major talenthouse SM Entertainment.

According to the Seoul Central District Court on Monday, the three singers brought suit against SM, demanding that they be confirmed their 13-year exclusive contract with the agency had been nullified, along with one billion won each, part of their share of profits they claim to have failed to receive.

The three had applied for provisional disposition of their contract with SM last July, saying it was too long and unfair, to which the court ruled in partial favor of, stating that SM cannot interfere with their individual activities.

This led to a halt of their activities as a five-man band in Korea and a few months later in Japan. The three then formed a separate group, signing with Japanese agency AVEX, through which they declared they would pursue their singing careers.

After giving a series of sold-out concerts in Japan just two weeks ago which they held to "express gratitude to fans," the new trio have been gearing up for their debut which is set to be produced by prominent U.S. musicians Kanye West and Timbaland.

Meanwhile, SM too had sued the three singers in mid-April in a suit worth 2.2 billion won for the damages the agency and the remaining two members, U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin, have suffered from the legal battle.

Since their 2004 debut, TVXQ, discovered and managed by SM, had arguably been one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia with reportedly the largest fanbase in the world.

Enjoying great success in the Japanese music industry in particular, they became the first foreign artist to top the Oricon singles charts six times and placed their single and album simultaneously within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart, the first time for a foreign artist to do so in 15 years.

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U-Know Yunho's "No Limit" DVD tops Oricon charts in Japan

U-Know Yunho in a scene from TV series "No Limit" [MBC]

The newly-released DVDs for MBC TV series "No Limit," starring TVXQ leader U-Know Yunho, is selling off the shelves in Japan, according to the country's Oricon charts.

According to Oricon's weekly DVD charts for television drama category, the two DVD box sets for "Limit" were the two best-selling DVDs in the country, ranking at No.1 and No.2 for the week of June 21.

This week, "No Limit" DVD Box I and Box II, released in Japan on June 16, each fell a notch to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

It is the first time in over three years that a Korean television drama has topped Oricon's DVD chart -- Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon last conquered the charts in 2007 with TV series "Taewangsashingi."

"Limit," which aired in Korea last fall, starred U-Know Yunho as a soccer player named Cha Bong-goon and Korean actress A Ra as his sports agent.

The two lead actors, U-Know Yunho and A Ra, attended a fan event in Japan to celebrate the DVD launch of "Limit" over the weekend.

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U-Know Yunho promotes "No Limit" DVD in Japan

Korean signer and actor U-Know Yunho of TVXQ [Asia Economic Daily]

Korean singer and actor U-Know Yunho of boy band TVXQ promoted his TV series "No Limit" in Japan over the weekend, visiting the country for the first time since TVXQ halted its musical activities there last April.

The singer attended a fan event to celebrate the DVD launch of MBC TV series "No Limit," held at Tokyo International Forum on June 26.

According to local media reports, U-Know Yunho appeared healthy and happy to see some 10,000 fans who showed up at the event.

"Long time no see, I am glad to see you and thank you for coming," the singer was quoted as saying.

In a letter to fans, the singer also shared his feelings about making an acting debut in "Limit" earlier this year.

"It was my first acting challenge so I was not completely satisfied," explained U-Know Yunho. "But I want to keep try working hard, based on what I learned from doing this drama."

The event also featured Korean actress A Ra, his co-star in "Limit" who played a sports agent to U-Know Yun-ho's soccer player character.

The singer thanked his fans by saying, "I will work hard to show you great performances.. I believe we will meet again."

U-Know Yunho, whose real name is Jung Yunho, made his debut in 2004 as the leader of five-member boy band which became one of the most phenomenal K-pop acts in Asia and reportedly has the largest fanbase in the world.

They have enjoyed great success in the Japanese music industry in particular, topping the Oricon singles charts six times and placing their single and album simultaneously within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart, the first time for a foreign artist to do so in 15 years.

However, TVXQ have announced that they will no longer be working as a group due to the legal dispute between three of its members -- Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu -- and agency SM Entertainment.

The three have since formed a new group while U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin have ventured into acting.

U-Know Yunho was recently cast as the male lead in the musical "Goong," based on the popular comics and hit TV series of the same name. The musical will premiere in Korea in September.

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U-Know Yunho shoots spread for Marie Claire Korea

Korean singer U-Know Yunho poses for his spread in the July issue of Marie Claire Korea [Marie Claire Korea]

Korean star U-Know Yunho's spread for the Korean edition of a global fashion magazine will be released in several Asian countries, according to his agency SM Entertainment on Monday.

SM announced in a press release that a pictorial that U-Know Yunho shot for the July issue of Marie Claire Korea, which hit stands last Saturday, will be released in Hong Kong, Thailand and several other Asian countries in August.

The photographs, featuring the singer with a new chic and sophisticated image, were taken in mid-May in Lan Kwai Fong of Hong Kong. The magazine will also include a 12-page spread with an interview with Yunho.

U-Know Yunho made his debut into the entertainment industry as a member of the five-man band TVXQ, one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia with reportedly the largest fan base in the world.

They had officially stopped working as a group in Korea since last July however, and later in Japan, when three of its members -- Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun -- asked a court to nullify their exclusive contract with SM, claiming their 13-year contract period is too long.

The three then formed a new singing trio with major Japanese agency Avex this year through which they said they will continue their music careers.

A former boy band member from the 1990s announced through his blog just last week that the trio is working on a new album with prominent U.S. musicians Kanye West and Timbaland.

Most recently, Yunho has been cast as one of the male leads for the musical adaptation of hit TV series "Goong," which will premiere on September 8.

Korean singer U-Know Yunho poses for his spread in the July issue of Marie Claire Korea [Marie Claire Korea]

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New TVXQ trio unit gives concert in Japan

TVXQ members Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun at Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, South Korea on November 21, 2009. [photographed by Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Korean pop idols Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, three members of boy band TVXQ who formed a new unit since getting involved in a legal battle with agency SM Entertainment, gave a sold-out concert in Japan over the weekend.

According to a report by Japanese newspaper Sankei Sports, the trio performed their last show of their two-city, four-gig concert tour in the country in front of some 54,000 fans who showed up Sunday at Tokyo Dome. The four shows reportedly attracted a total of 200,000 fans.

During the concert, whose setlist was comprised of a total of eighteen songs, the three singers broke into tears while performing their new track "W."

"I want to keep on singing with a pure heart. Thank you forever," Hero Jaejoong was quoted as saying at the show.

Bandmate Micky Yoochun thanked fans saying, "We were very worried if we could perform on stage again. We were able to get here because of you."

Last July, the three singers had asked a court to nullify their 13-year exclusive contract with SM, claiming that the contract period is too long.

The legal dispute led to the mega-successful boy band halting their activities as a five-member group, who officially quit working as a group in Korea last year and later in Japan as well.

Arguably the most phenomenal K-pop act created by talent agency SM Entertainment, the TVXQ had enjoyed great success throughout Asia and the Japanese music industry in particular.

Last year, they became the first foreign artist to top the Oricon singles charts six times and placed their single and album simultaneously within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart, the first time for a foreign artist to do so in 15 years.

Although the group's legal woes did little to wane their popularity among fans, the five members have been going their separated ways with Hero, Micky and Xiah forming a new group through which they will continue their music careers.

The trio are set to release a documentary DVD on July 28 and appear at music festival "a - nation'10" to be held in Osaka and Tokyo starting August 7.

Two other members, leader U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin, have ventured into acting with starring roles in upcoming musical production of "Goong" and television drama "Paradise Ranch," respectively.

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Hero Jaejoong denies dating Japanese model

TVXQ member Hero Jaejoong [Asia Economic Daily]

Hero Jaejoong of Korean idol group TVXQ has denied recent rumors that he is dating Japanese model Yano Mikiko, according to a Japanese magazine Women's Weekly.

The weekly publication reported in its recent issue that Hero Jaejoong had "enjoyed a date with Japanese model Yano Mikiko near Shibuya. They were wearing masks and Mikiko had her arm through Hero Jaejoong's."

Mikiko is a popular model who has appeared on the May cover of fashion magazine Non-No.

However, both parties denied the report. Incidentally, Hero Jaejoong had also been linked to Japanese actress Abiru Yuu last November.

Hero, whose real name is Kim Jaejoong, debuted in 2004 as part of five-member boy band TVXQ. The group became one of the most phenomenal K-pop acts in the country and throughout Asia, selling numerous records and recently making history in the Japanese music scene.

The band officially stopped working as a group in Korea last year and in Japan last month due to a legal dispute between three of its members -- Hero Jaejoong, Xiah Junsu and Micky Yoochun -- and talent agency SM Entertainment over their 13-year exclusive contract.

In April, Hero Jaejoong made a successful acting debut in a Japanese TV series "Hard to Say I Love You" alongside top Japanese actors Eita and Ueno Juri of smash hit TV series "Nodame Cantabile".

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"Avatar" producers to film BoA, TVXQ concerts in 3D

Korean idol group TVXQ performing at concert [SM Entertainment]

Director James Cameron and his team of producers behind Hollywood blockbuster pic "Avatar" have agreed to produce the music videos and concert videos for BoA, TVXQ and other artists under agency SM Entertainment (SM) in 3D format.

Cameron -- currently in town for the annual Seoul Digital Forum -- met with Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics' executives and SM founder Lee Soo-man at the "3D Content-Related Cooperation Plan" event, held today at Samsung offices in Seocho District, where they announced news of the collaboration.

According to the plan, "Avatar" producers will be filming SM artists' music videos and concerts in 3D and electronics giant Samsung will use the 3D content in the company's worldwide marketing plan for its 3D television products.

The filming for the 3D concert is expected to begin "around June" in Korea, presumably at live music concerts featuring BoA, TVXQ and Girls' Generation.

Producer and entertainment mogul Lee Soo-man expressed his anticipation, saying "I am proud to be able to work with a global company like Samsung Electronics and the best team of producers in the world. I think we will come up with the best 3D content."

Female pop singer BoA, who also attended the event with TVXQ members Max Changmin and U-Know Yunho, commented, "I am glad and excited to take part in such a fantastic event. I will try my best to become an artist who approaches fans with great content."

The TVXQ singers said they will "work hardest to create a new kind of cultural content."

SM Entertainment, considered one of the top talent agencies in Korea, just yesterday disclosed information on its earnings for the first quarter of the year, indicating its most successful first quarter to date.

The firm recorded operating profits of 10.4 billion won, or over nine million dollars, during the three month period, which is an increase by an astounding 471 percent from the same period last year.

BoA has been one of the most successful K-pop artists since first making her debut ten years ago and is one of the first Korean artists to make a major breakthrough into the Japanese music industry. She also made her U.S. debut in March 2009.

Five member boy-band TVXQ is also one of Asia's top artists with reportedly the largest fanbase in the world but they have ceased working as an entirety since July last year after three of its members, namely Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, became embroiled in a legal battle with SM.

Korean pop singer BoA [SM Entertainment]

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Japanese Writer: ‘Young Woong Jaejoong Will Become Successful Actor’

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A Japanese drama writer praised Korean actor Young Woong Jaejoong, who is now acting in the Japanese TV drama "I Can't Be Honest."

According to a person at Image Factory, which is an importer of the movie “Halfway,” Kitagawa Eriko, who is a writer for the drama “I Can’t Be Honest,” sent a letter to the film company saying, “I strongly believe that Young Woong Jaejoong will establish his foundation as an actor by appearing in the drama ‘I Can’t Be Honest.’”

 

Kitagawa is a famous writer as she has written successful dramas including “I Can’t Be Honest” and “One Million Stars Falling from the Sky,” and she also debuted as a movie director with “Halfway,” which was released in Korea last month. 

 

Kitagawa continued to say in the letter, “Jaejoong is transcending national boundaries by acting in the Japanese drama 'I Can’t Be Honest.' I am enjoying working with him.” 

 

The drama “I Can’t Be Honest” began airing from April 15 on Fuji TV and it portrays stories of love and friendship between a man and a woman who became friends through Twitter. Young Woong Jaejoong is playing a Korean man who works at a medical instrument company in Tokyo and he appears in the drama together with star Japanese actors including Ueno Juri, Nagayama Eita, and Tamayama Tetsuji. 

 

The Movie “Halfway,” which was released on April 29 in Korea, tells stories of teenagers utilizing beautiful scenes and the director, Iwai Shunji--who made “Love Letter”--produced the movie.

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U-Know Yunho featured in Shanghai Expo video

Korean idol U-Know Yunho star of "Chorus City" [SM Entertainment]

Korean pop idol U-Know Yunho has been featured as the main star in a video to be shown throughout the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, according to his agency SM Entertainment on Monday.

The video, a 12-minute long clip titled "Chorus City," has been showing at the South Korea pavilion of the Expo which kicked off on Saturday, delivering the message of friendship and harmony between Korea and China.

Director Kim Seong-soo, whose works include hit films "Beat" and "City Of The Rising Sun," helmed the clip which talks about how so-called 'wishmakers' of a future city created jointly by Korea and China help a ballerina find the dreams she loses after getting into an accident.

Other SM artists including Super Junior members Siwon, Donghae, Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, Super Junior M members Xhou Mi, Henry and girl group f(x) also appear in the video.

The Expo 2010 Shanghai China will run for six months until October 31 with over 192 countries set to attend the event.

U-Know, whose real name is Jung Yunho, made his debut in 2004 as the leader of the five-member boy band TVXQ.

They are known as one of the most successful K-pop idols in Asia but recently announced they will discontinue pursuing their activities as a five-man band after three of its members -- Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun -- asked a court to nullify their exclusive 13-year contract with SM Entertainment.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@

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Xiah Junsu to kick off solo career on May 22

Singer Xiah Junsu [SM Entertainment]

 

Korean pop idol Xiah Junsu will officially begin his solo activities in Japan on May 22, according to Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Sports on Monday.

Sankei reported that the 23-year-old singer is set to give a guest performance at the "Girls Awards 2010," a major music and fashion event to be held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.

At the 15,000-seat ceremony, Xiah will perform his solo debut single "Intoxication" which is set for release four days later.

"I am nervous and excited about the performance since it has been a while that I have sung on a big stage alone. Hopefully my fans will enjoy it," Xiah was quoted as saying in the paper.

Xiah's first single album titled "XIAH" will feature his title track "Intoxication" and "Beautiful Love - If You Are By My Side," the main theme song for the mobile Bee TV drama of the same name that stars fellow TVXQ member Micky Yoochun.

TVXQ members Hero Jaejoong, Micky and Xiah have been going their separate ways from their five-man band since July last year when they were granted partial victory by a court in a request to have their 13-year exclusive contract with major talenthouse SM Entertainment nullified.

They started by halting their activities in Korea immediately and later in Japan in early April, but Avex, who had been in charge of the boys' career in Japan, stated just a week later that the three have formed a separate group through which they will pursue their singing careers.

SM has filed a suit against the three, claiming compensation for the damages the agency and the remaining two members have suffered from the action.

TVXQ had been one of the most successful groups in Asia since their debut in 2004 with reportedly the largest fan base in the world.

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Xiah Junsu readying for solo singing career in Japan

Singer Xiah Junsu [SM Entertainment]

 

K-pop idol Xiah Junsu will be launching a solo singing career in Japan next month, according to TVXQ's official Japanese webpage on Monday.

A notice posted on http://toho-jp.net/ explained that music channel MTV Japan will run a program in mid-May featuring the music video of the singer's solo debut single "Intoxication."

The four-part program, titled "MTV Making the Video," will show how the music video for his new song is created.

Xiah will officially unveil the single, written and composed by the singer himself, in Japan at the end of May.

Less than two weeks ago, Avex had announced that TVXQ members Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, currently embroiled in a legal battle with major talenthouse SM Entertainment, have formed a separate group through which they will pursue their singing careers.

Hero, Micky and Xiah had asked a court in July of last year to nullify their 13-year exclusive contract with SM to which the court ruled that the agency will not interfere in their individual activities

This prompted them to stop working as a group in Korea ever since and in Japan starting this month.

SM has filed a suit against the three idols too, claiming 2.2 billion won worth of compensation for the damages the agency and the remaining two members have suffered from the action.

TVXQ was considered one of the most successful musical acts in Asia and Japan, becoming one of the first foreign artists to top the prestigious Oricon singles charts six times with their 27th single "Share the World/We are!"

They made music history in Japan again in April when their single and album simultaneously placed within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart.

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Source: Asiae

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Hero Jaejoong makes successful acting debut in Japan

TVXQ member Hero Jaejoong (far right) in Japanese TV series "Hard to Say I Love You" [Fuji TV]

 

Hero Jaejoong of Korean idol group TVXQ has made a successful acting debut in a Japanese TV series which premiered on Fuji TV last week.

According to statistics released by a local research firm, the first episode of drama "Hard to Say I Love You" scored a 11.9 percent viewership rating, coming in second behind Asahi TV's popular crime drama "Omiya-san" with 15.4 percent.

"You", which airs every Thursday evening at 10 p.m., is a story of friendship between five young men and women who became acquaintances through Twitter, a popular social networking and micro-blogging service around the world.

Hero Jaejoong appears as a Korean medical equipment salesman alongside top Japanese actors Eita and Ueno Juri of smash hit TV series "Nodame Cantabile".

Hero, whose real name is Kim Jaejoong, debuted in 2004 as part of five-member boy band TVXQ. The group became one of the most phenomenal K-pop acts in the country and throughout Asia, selling numerous records and recently making history in the Japanese music scene.

TVXQ has been making headlines as of late for announcing that they will no longer be working in Japan as a group and that the members will go their separate ways to pursue individual careers.

The band had officially stopped working as a group in Korea since last July due to a legal dispute between three of its members -- Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun -- and talent agency SM Entertainment over their 13-year exclusive contract.

The three members had asked the court to nullify their contract with SM, claiming that their contract period was "too long", and the court had ruled in favor of them, ordering provisional disposition of the contract.

However, the legal battle heated up again when SM filed an objection against the court's decision and sued the three singers for KRW 2.2 billion won, demanding financial compensation for damages the agency allegedly suffered from the members' investment in cosmetics business and their cancelled concert in China.

Last Thursday, Xiah, Hero and Micky announced through their Japanese management agency AVEX that they had formed a new group through which they will be pursuing their music careers.

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TVXQ's Xiah, Micky, Hero form new group

From left, TVXQ members Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun receive an award at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) on November 21, 2009. [Asia Economic Daily]

 

Boy band TVXQ members Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, currently embroiled in a legal battle with major talenthouse SM Entertainment, have formed a separate group through which they will pursue their singing careers.

"Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu have formed a new unit and they have signed with us to carry out their musical activities," Japanese management firm Avex stated on its official website on Wednesday.

"They have also decided to hold dome events in an expression of gratitude toward their fans...... We will update you on further details as soon as they are set," Avex added.

A separate report by Japanese sports daily Sports Hochi stated that the three singers will hold a total of four dome events in June -- two at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka and two at the Tokyo Dome.

The report also quoted a related official as saying the three will not sing any TVXQ songs at the events but their own songs which have already gone into production.

The move comes as a surprise to the Korean music industry and the boys' fans since the three had long expressed that TVXQ would remain intact despite its conflict with SM.

SM expressed its disappointment at the news, saying the three singers "irresponsibly abandoned TVXQ by starting up a unit without considering the outcome of the lawsuit and the responsibility they would possibly have to undertake thereafter."

SM, in charge of discovering and managing the five-member band, had filed a 2.2 billion won lawsuit against the three singers on Monday, objecting against a court's decision ordering provisional disposition of their working contracts as well as demanding compensation for the damages the agency and the remaining two members suffered from the action.

In late July last year, Hero, Micky and Xiah had asked a court to nullify their 13-year exclusive contract with SM to which the court ruled that the agency will not interfere in their individual activities.

The five-man band had stopped working as a group in Korea ever since and later announced on April 3 that the group would no longer pursue a singing career together.

TVXQ had enjoyed great success throughout Asia and the Japanese music industry in particular, becoming the first foreign artist to top the Oricon singles charts six times with their 27th single "Share the World/We are!" released last year.

They made music history in Japan again in early April, when they placed their single and album simultaneously within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart, the first time for a foreign artist to do so in 15 years.

Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@asiae.co.kr

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SM sues TVXQ members for 2.2 bln won

From left, TVXQ members Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun receive an award at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) on November 21, 2009. [Asia Economic Daily]

Three members of boy band TVXQ, namely Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu, have been sued a total 2.2 billion won, equivalent to nearly two million dollars, by major talenthouse SM Entertainment.

SM, in charge of discovering and managing the five-member band, had taken legal action against the three singers on Monday, filing an objection against a court's decision ordering provisional disposition of their working contracts as well as a lawsuit reclaiming their validity.



"We are demanding compensation for damages the agency and the remaining two members have suffered from the cosmetics business the three have undertaken and them also cancelling a concert in Shenzhen," SM stated in its complaint.

SM went onto explain that the conflict between the two parties arose from the cosmetics business the three singers invested in last year, after the agency claimed the singers would be violating their exclusive contract by using the group's name and portrait rights for the business.



"That is when they denied the validity of their working contract and filed for provisional disposition. They then one-sidedly decided to cancel on their schedules following the court ruling, inflicting immense damages to the remaining two members," SM claimed.

In late July last year, Hero, Micky and Xiah had asked a court in late July to nullify their 13-year exclusive contract with SM to which the court ruled that the agency will not interfere in their individual activities.


The five-man band had stopped working as a group in Korea ever since, although carrying on their activities in Japan including making TV and magazine appearances as well as releasing albums, until announcing on April 3 that the group would no longer pursue a singing career together.


TVXQ has been one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia since their debut in 2004 with reportedly the largest fanbase in the world.


They were particularly successful in the Japanese music industry, becoming the first foreign artist to top the Oricon singles charts six times with a single last year and also the first foreign artist in 15 years to place their single and album simultaneously within the top three slots of Oricon's singles and albums chart.


Reporter : Lim Hye-seon lhsro@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

Source: Asiae

Credits: http://theksource.blogspot.com/

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SM Entertainment Fires Back With a Lawsuit Against the Three TVXQ Members

After months of legal dispute between entertainment giant SM Entertainment and the three members (Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun) of the five member group TVXQ, the group recently had announced stepping on the brakes of all their activities in Japan. Fans thought that was big news. Well, the situation has proven to have become even stickier.


After winning the lawsuit in 2009 over allegedly unfair profit distribution, SM Entertainment announced on the 13th, that they're lashing back with a legal lawsuit of their own. The company released a statement saying that they have done the best that they can to maintain the group as a whole. However, being that the three members had recently filed for an injunction, and because they have halted all activities as a group, the company was left with no choice but to retaliate. SM Entertainment is objecting against the trio's stance on the contract terms between both parties and is seeking to verify the contract's remaining validity.

Source: KBS

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