TVXQ
JYJ & HoMin Fans
Because of recent events, I’ve decided to give a quick little history lesson for those who weren’t around during the HOT, JTL & Shinhwa days. I encourage you all to read this as well as do a little research of you own to get more facts. Seeing how this entry is going to be a bit long, I’ll be as brief as possible. I truly hope this sheds a little more light on our current situation regarding TVXQ & JYJ.
In the mid 90’s, SM Entertainment created a boy band named H.O.T. This group consisted of 5 teenagers, Leader Moon Hee Jun, Kangta, Lee Jaewon, Tony An & Jang Woo Hyuk. They had a HUGE success, were popular among many, had a large fan base and dominated KPOP. In 2001, at the height of their career, the H.O.T. members started having a lot of disagreements and started speaking out. In particular, financial/monetary issues. When the group’s contract expired, ONLY Moon & Kangta were offered new ones. (Beginning of fan wars) This was a decision that was already made BEFORE the expiration of the group’s contracts. The three remaining members, Jang Woo Hyuk, Tony An & Lee Jaewon left SM and created their own group known as JTL.
When JTL debut, they had MANY hardships! SM Entertainment boycotted their music and blocked their appearances from the broadcast stations. They did everything and anything in their power to make sure that JTL didn’t succeed. The worst part though, was the that relationship between the 3/2 members were anything but good. Because of the boycotts & bans, JTL only lasted for a few years then went on to do solo activities. As for Moon, he went on to debut as a solo artist but wasn’t as successful as SM had wanted so they basically pulled the plug on him. Meaning they stopped investing in him so he had to use his own money to create new albums. It didn’t last very long. (Remember, it’s nothing personal, just business!)
Shinhwa was another group that was created by SM in the late 90’s. There were 6 members, Leader Eric, Minwoo, Andy, Jun Jin, Dong Wan & Shin Hyu Sung. They too dominated the music scene as well, going head to head with H.O.T. quite often. Even though they were also at the height of their success, they had a lot of disagreements and controversies as well. (Andy left the group for a while.) When Shinhwa’s contract expired, only 2 were offered renewals. Eric & Minwoo! Both denied the contracts because they wanted the group to stay together as one so as a group, the signed with another agency. This, of course, didn’t sit well with SM so they filed a lawsuit to keep the name Shinhwa. (I’m sure if you look hard enough, you’ll be able to find article on how Eric had to beg a certain member of SM for the rights to the name only to be denied.) SM lost the case and the name was awarded to the members.
I know many years have passed since these events happened but the lessons learned have been forgotten. Does anyone else see the similarities? Is it just a coincidence? Back then, HOT & JTL fans were divided the same way as TVXQ & JYJ fans now. Everyone was playing the blame game the same way we are doing now. Has nothing changed? The lawsuit clearly states JYJ vs SM Entertainment yet somehow it’s been shifted to JYJ vs TVXQ. Why? Because he said, she said? If we as fans don’t change our ways and continue attacking/bashing each other, when Cassieopia falls, and trust me it will, it’ll be our own doing. SM will not care because a new group would have debuted. After all, it’s just business!
