JYJ, originally known as Junsu/Jejung/Yuchun in Japan, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 by Kim Junsu, Kim Jae-joong, and Park Yoo-chun, former members of TVXQ. Their group name is derived from the initials of each member's name. Managed initially by C-JeS Entertainment in Korea, they quickly gained popularity with their debut Japanese EP The... in April 2010, which soared to the top of the Oricon Albums Chart. This marked their successful transition from TVXQ to an independent group.
Their subsequent releases, including the global debut album The Beginning (2010) and their first Korean studio album In Heaven (2011), also achieved chart-topping success. Notably, JYJ became the first K-pop group to perform in Chile and Peru, expanding their international footprint beyond Asia.
Despite their early achievements, JYJ faced challenges with their Japanese activities suspended in 2010 due to conflicts between Avex Entertainment and C-JeS Entertainment. Undeterred, they focused on global promotions, releasing English-language albums and embarking on world tours that included stops in South Korea, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe.
Throughout their career, JYJ's popularity was buoyed by their dedicated fan base, demonstrated by high album sales and sold-out concerts.In recent years, the group has undergone significant changes. By 2023, all three members had officially departed from C-JeS Entertainment, marking the end of an era for JYJ under their former label. Despite this, individual members like Yoo-chun and Junsu pursued solo careers, with Junsu collaborating with Jaejoong on new projects.
As of April 2023, Jaejoong's departure from C-JeS signaled the end of JYJ's ties with their original agency, leaving their future as a group uncertain but highlighting their enduring impact on K-pop's global expansion and the individual pursuits of its members in the music industry.