TVXQ/DBSK

TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi[1] (traditional Chinese/Hanja/Kanji: 東方神起; simplified Chinese: 东方神起; pinyin: Dōngfāngshénqǐ; Hangul: 동방신기; Rōmaji: Tōhōshinki), is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki[2][3] (동방신기), often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (東方神起 Tōhōshinki?) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone in 2005. Their name translates as "The Rising Gods of the East".[4][5]

TVXQ is one of Asia's most successful acts and has been labelled as "Asia's Stars"[6] and "Kings of the Hallyu Wave" for its immense success and contributions to Korean pop.[7][8][9] 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.[citation needed] Notably, their official fan club Cassiopeia earned a Guinness World Record in 2008 for its size, and is said to be one of the largest fan clubs in the world.[10]

Being one of the pivotal founders of the Korean Pop Influence known as the “Hallyu Wave,” TVXQ has made several achievements themselves. 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. [11] 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.[12]

The founding members of the group are 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 as a five member group in Korea and Japan after 2009.

After approximately a year on hiatus, TVXQ returned as a duo consisting of Yunho and Changmin with the release of their Korean pop album Keep Your Head Down on January 5, 2011, and the release of their Japanese single "왜 (Keep Your Head Down)" under Avex Trax on January 26, 2011. Their full-length Japanese album TONE was released on September 28, 2011, selling 205,000 copies in its first week. TVXQ is currently preparing for their TONE ~ TVXQ Live Tour 2012 in Japan, where they will hold a total of 14 shows throughout nine cities for three months starting January 2012.