TVXQ

TVXQ (stylized as TVXQ!; Korean: 동방신기; lit. 'Rising Gods of the East'), also known as Tohoshinki (東方神起) in Japan, is a South Korean duo formed by SM Entertainment, composed of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin. On January 25 and 26, 2011, Yunho and Changmin began their activities as the duo TVXQ, starting with "SMTOWN LIVE"—a joint concert organized by SM Entertainment that marked the event's debut in Japan. Originally formed in 2003 as a five-member boy band which also consisted of members Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, and Xiah Junsu, TVXQ debuted with their first single "Hug" (2004). Their first four albums as a quintet, Tri-Angle (2004), Rising Sun (2005), "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (2006), and Mirotic (2008), received chart-topping commercial success in South Korea, with the latter winning the Golden Disk Award for Album of the Year. Mirotic's title track was recognized by international music critics as a staple in K-pop. They were one of the first Korean artists to lead the Korean Wave in Japan, where they were propelled to mainstream stardom following the release of their fourth Japanese album The Secret Code (2009). However, despite their commercial success, the band was plunged into legal turmoil and internal conflict when members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu attempted to split from their Korean agency SM Entertainment. They released their last Japanese album as a quintet, Best Selection 2010 prior to the trio's departure in 2010. It became the band's first album to top the Oricon Albums Chart. Two previously released songs on the album, One Piece theme song, "Share the World" (2009), were platinum-selling. After a year-long hiatus, TVXQ returned as a duo with their fifth Korean album Keep Your Head Down (2011), topping album charts in most major Asian markets upon release. Their first two Japanese albums as a duo, Tone (2011) and...