TVXQ: A Lesson About Perseverance On Their 20th Anniversary

Few are the K-Pop groups who can look back at their career and count more than fifteen years of restless activities. As any stan knows, surviving an industry affected by new trends and an intransigent public can be a hard venture. The internet and professionals alike have discussed at length about a ‘7 years curse’ ― as the name suggests, referring to groups disbanding 7 years after their debut ― that has seen even the mightiest formations crumbling under the weight of in-fights or bad management.

For this reason, hearing of veteran artists still standing and be successful is quite a rarity; a full-blown miracle, one may say, if we consider the complex history of K-Pop sensational royalty TVXQ. 

Much has been told and much is well known about their contribution to Korean music. Debuted in 2003 originally as a 5-member group, TVXQ are often described as pioneers of the modern concept of ‘boy band’ in South Korea as well as the ones opening the door to the 2nd generation of K-Pop. In times where light sticks were yet to be invented, and the current streaming culture on platforms like Melon or Spotify was inexistent, TVXQ were really one of a kind.

Even nowadays, it would be hard ― if not impossible ― to meet a K-Pop fan who doesn’t stand in awe in front of a performance of 'Rising Sun' or doesn’t sing along the suggestive chorus of 'Mirotic'. The latter, in particular, has been covered so extensively by all generations, that a common inside joke among Cassiopeia is hoping that rookie groups will pick any other song except the same, good old 'Mirotic'.

To expand on this point, I could go on by citing the jazzy hit 'Something' or the electropop 'Catch Me' with its peculiar ‘hulk dance’ choreography. It’s undeniable: their songs are ingrained in the common memory of all of us, regardless of the sense of belonging we feel for our respective fandoms.

Yet, TVXQ are K-Pop legends not just because time has proven them to be or for the astonishing numbers of their sold-out concerts. As recently shown, among other things, by being the foreign act with the most Tokyo Dome concerts, surpassing rock titans The Rolling Stones.

What’s most inspiring about their career is the determination they’ve displayed through the years in spite of their various hardships, many of which would’ve been enough of a reason for them to quit, chasing opportunities somewhere else or embracing the comfort of anonymity once again.

The most obvious adversity, perhaps, has been losing three members at a moment that was deemed as the peak of their popularity. Truth be told, that alone wouldn’t be unheard of ― as we said before, K-Pop can be a volatile world and idols leaving or being kicked out of a group is sadly a common occurrence. However, succeeding as a duo in an industry where the average number of members is around 5-6 is extraordinary.

Ask your friends about the greatest duos that have made it big in K-Pop, and the majority of them will instinctively mention sub-units of already known groups, confirming the praxis that bigger formations are normal and, may I add, expected among K-Pop fans.

On that account, I always like to remind myself that TVXQ were never fated to be two, but rather, they worked hard and sacrificed much to be able to find a balance in their relationship and turn a difficult situation into a dynamic force without precedents. We’ve heard from YunHo and ChangMin themselves that their bond is akin to the life of a married couple, with all the perks and limitations that it entails. It’s not easy and might have not come naturally at first, but the love they feel for each other is genuine exactly because it is imperfect; even comical at times, as revealed in many interviews where we still notice how different they are from one another ― YunHo being the charismatic leader and ChangMin the shier, yet unyielding maknae.

An uplifting friendship that their fans have long observed with both curiosity and admiration, oftentimes finding ourselves longing for what they have, to experience how it feels like to have a friend whom we can be hardworking and ambitious with — and why not, goofy too!

Going beyond simple statistics or awards won, TVXQ are unique in a manner that shouldn’t be taken for granted when speaking about a group with 20 years of music on their shoulders. In fact, they’re still growing at a point of their career where everything seems to have been already achieved, showing that although there’s nothing else to prove to younger generations, the name of TVXQ is very much alive and doesn’t manifest signs of slowing down. They’re comfortable with the status of "Gods of K-Pop", but they’re far from behaving as finite artists. By defying all expectations and contradicting ageist opinions that give an expiration date to idols, their humility and willingness to challenge themselves is what makes them look so relatable to the eyes of their fandom.

A good example of their continuous growth is, without a doubt, their freshly released album "20&2". With a repertoire that offers an interesting variety of genres ― from electronic pop, R&B, to a disco-inspired track as well as a poignant ballad ― TVXQ demonstrates how they made the word ‘resilience’ their life motto, pouring much of what they’ve learned during their long career into their newest music. It’s a triumphant comeback that rewards the fandom for its loyalty, but more than that, it symbolizes the mutual devotion YunHo and ChangMin have for one another.

The heterogeneity of the album itself represents their differences and how, even with polar opposite personalities, TVXQ are here for reaffirming their undebatable importance in the industry. If anything, it’s exactly in their contrasting identities that the group has survived difficult situations, finding triumph by renewing themselves yet without compromising about their roots.

To those who know little about them, TVXQ seem almost an untouchable presence in the successful roster of SM artists ― supportive seniors, known for their elegant image, characterized by a grandeur that you don’t see often. They are, indeed, all of the things listed above, but deep down, fame hasn’t deprived them of the enthusiasm and gratitude of their early years.

YunHo, who used to sustain himself with part-time jobs in his training days, and ChangMin, whose initial life plans never included becoming an idol!

Ultimately, the secret of TVXQ’s greatness lies in their ability of being a little bit of everything: secure of themselves, yet without bragging; artists, but first and foremost, regular men that happened to become one of the biggest pop acts in the world, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

Cheers to their next 20 years. Tune in for the new album ‘20&2’ by TVXQ!