Moel's Blog

Dong Bang Shin Gi a.k.a Tohoshinki or TVXQ an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi (東方神起), is a South Korean boy band quintet formed under SM Entertainment in 2003. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Gi (동방신기) they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (東方神起) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone in 2005.

The meaning of "Dong Bang Shin Gi" or "Tong Vfang Xien Qi" is "Gods Rising from the East". They consist of a five-member dance team is made up of high school students who auditioned for stardom. Each member of Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK) has proved his talent in singing as well as dancing. Thus, the mould of the korean boy band was formed.Since their debut, TVXQ has become one of the most popular singing groups in East Asia, gaining great popularity in such countries as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other East Asian regions.

The first to join Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK) was Kim JunSu (김준수) who was 12 at that time; he was brought into the program through a TV show looking for a new talent. He continued to train for six more years and debuted under the name of Xiah Junsu (시아준수; Xiah is pronounced SHe-AH in Korean).

The next TVXQ (Dong Bang Shin Ki, DBSK) member to join, Jung YunHo (정윤호), won his audition through a dance competition. However, he was no amateur--he had been a backup dancer and rapper for K-pop singer Dana. His chosen stage name is U-know YunHo (유노윤호; because when you say YunHo real fast, it sounds like U-know in English).

Kim JaeJoong(김재중), like Tamaki Nami (a Japanese pop singer), left his hometown to audition for SM Entertainment and debut under the name a fortune teller foretold years before: YoungWoong JaeJoong (영웅재중). He is also known as Hero, the meaning YoungWoong (영웅).

Shim ChangMin (심창민), was one of the youngest to audition; nevertheless, he passed the try-outs. He joined the band on the name of ChoiKang ChangMin (최강창민; the English counterpart to his stage name is Max).

Before their debut, the group was offered three tentative names: O Jang Yukbu (오장육부 lit. The Five Visceras), Jeonseoleul Meokgo Saneun Gorae (전설을 먹고 사는 고래 lit. A Whale That Eats Legends), and Dong Bang Bul Pae (동방불패, the Korean title of Ashes of Time). They decided on Dong Bang Bul Pae; however, the name was rejected because the Hanja was not aesthetically pleasing, and the name was changed to Dong Bang Shin Gi, which was named by Soo-Man Lee'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" in January 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. 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.


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, "Asu wa Kuru Kara" (明日は来るから, lit. Because Tomorrow Will Come), and their debut Japanese album, Heart, Mind and Soul. 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.

TVXQ's musical style consists of many genres such as pop, R&B and dance; however, the group is also known for singing a cappella. The majority of the lyrics and composition to TVXQ's songs are done by their staff. On occasion, the members of the group contribute to the writing of the lyrics and composition. 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). 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), Max 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 Japanese album, T, Micky wrote "Kiss Shita Mama, Sayonara" (Kissしたまま、さよなら, lit. As We Kiss, Goodbye) 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 "Wasurenaide" (忘れないで, lit. Don't Forget) 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.

Discography

Korean studio albums

* 2004: Tri-angle
* 2005: Rising Sun
* 2006: "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.
* 2008: Mirotic

Japanese studio albums

* 2006: Heart, Mind and Soul
* 2007: Five in the Black
* 2008: T
* 2009: The Secret Code

Member Profile

U-KNOW YunHo
Stage Name?: U-KNOW | U-know YunHo (유노윤호 or 瑜?允浩)
Real Name: Jung Yun Ho (정윤호)
Birthdate: February 6, 1986
Birthplace: GwangJu (광주)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Blood Type: A
Hobbies: Music, reading, playing sports, composing music
Specialty: Dancing
Position: Bass vocal

HERO JaeJoong
Stage Name?: HERO | YoungWoong JaeJoong (영웅재중 or 英雄在中)
Real Name?: Kim Jae Joong (김재중)
Birthdate: January 26, 1986
Birthplace: Chungnam (충남 or 忠南)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Blood Type: O
Hobbies: Playing computer games, listening to music, playing the piano, composing, cooking
Specialty: Singing
Position: Main vocal

XIAH JunSu
Stage Name?: XIAH | Xiah JunSu (시아준수 or ??俊秀)
Real Name: Kim Jun Su (김준수)
Birthdate: December 15, 1986, though his parents registered him on January 1, 1987
Birthplace: Gyeonggi (경기 or 京畿道)
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Blood Type: B
Hobbies: Piano, soccer
Specialty: Singing, dancing
Position: Middle high vocal

MICKY YooChun
Stage Name?: MICKY | Micky YooChun (믹키유천 or 秘奇有天/秘奇有仟)
Real Name: Park Yoo Chun (박유천)
Birthdate: June 4, 1986
Birthplace: Seoul (서울 or 漢城)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Blood Type: O
Hobbies: Composing music/lyrics/rap, piano, RC카 드라이빙,튜닝(RCcar driving, tuning)
Specialty: Singing, composing
Position: Middle low vocal

MAX ChangMin
Stage Name?: MAX | ChoiKang ChangMin (최강창민 or 最强昌珉)
Real Name: Shim Chang Min (심창민)
Birthdate: February 18, 1988
Birthplace: Seoul (서울 or 漢城)
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 61 kg
Blood Type: B
Hobbies: Music, singing, eating
Specialty: Singing, dancing
Position: High vocal