Despite being voted the most popular singer, Junsu, musician of Korean male trio JYJ, was not extended an invitation for the 2016 Seoul Music Awards Thursday, sparking debate whether his estranged former agency SM Entertainment is still wielding its power in the local music industry.
Below is the timeline of the trio’s years-long legal battle for independence from the record label giant.
— July 2009: Three members of the quintet K-pop boy band TVXQ — Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yuchun, and Xiah Junsu — nullify their contracts with SM Entertainment, citing unfair distribution of profit and the excessively long 13-year contract. SM responds saying their claim was deviant and reckless.
TVXQ, before Xiah Junsu, Micky Yoochun, Hero Jaejoong (from the left) split (OSEN)
— September 2009: Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yuchun, and Xiah Junsu change their stage names to Jae-joong, Yu-chun and Jun-su, respectively, and establish a trio called JYJ.
— October 2009: Court grants injunction to protect JYJ’s activities, regardless of SM Entertainment’s objection.
— June 2010: JYJ holds Japan concerts in Osaka and Tokyo.
— September 2010: JYJ release their debut album “The …” in Japan, topping the Oricon Weekly Chart. A week later Avex Entertainment, former agency of JYJ for their Japan activities, halts all Japan activities.
— October 2010: JYJ releases its debut album, “The Beginning,” whose domestic sales exceed 300,000. SM Entertainment files injunction against its release in the Korean market
JYJ’s 1st album, “The Beginning” (C-Jes Entertainment)
— January 2011: JYJ releases “Their Rooms ‘Our Story.’”
— Feb. 2011: The Seoul District Court rules in favor of JYJ’s Korean activities, legally nullifying the contract between JYJ’s three members and SM Entertainment.
— April-June 2011: JYJ goes on first world tour in Thailand, Taiwan, China, Canada and the United States.
— July 2013: The Fair Trade Committee orders the Union of Korean Pop Culture and Arts Industry, a collective federation of artists promoting Korean culture and arts to withdraw its act of relentlessly hindering JYJ’s activities in Korea, which was revealed to have been done in collusion with SM Entertainment.
JYJ in Japan tour in Fukuoka Dome in 2014 (C-Jes Entertainment)
— March 2015: Jae-joong was enlisted to army
— April 2015: JYJ Jun-su makes first TV appearance through “EBS Space,” a live music performance show, six years since debut as JYJ.
— Aug. 2015: Yu-chun was enlisted to army
— November 2015: The so-called “JYJ Act,” to protect musicians from being hindered by dominating powers, passes the National Assembly
Junsu in his first TV appearance in “EBS Space” (EBS)
— January 2016: Jun-su bags “the most popular singer” at the 25th Seoul Music Awards, yet was not invited to the venue.
By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)
Source: Kpop Herald
Shared by: JYJ3
Tagged: 25th Seoul Music Awards, AVEX, EBS Space Empathy, Jaejoong, Junsu, JYJ, Korean Fair Trade Commission, SM, The Beginning, Yoochun
JYJ3 
Oh boy they’ve missed so many other incidents. Eg Incheon Asia Games + many more.
I don’t know for sure, but they may not have listed it because (despite the battle they fought and threatened lawsuits made) they were able to perform at the games. Although they did not get enough air time, they were present and did appear on the broadcast. SM is truly despicable. Lee Soo Man, in my opinion, is the South Korean version of Kim Jong Un. I hope, every day, that this prejudice ends soon.
I agree 100%
I know. There have been so many incidents.
It seems to me they have only highlighted the legal processes that took place and then their work: albums, tours and achievements.. Except for the last incident with Junsu, they haven’t mentioned any of the numerous snubs they have received either individuslly or as a group
Althoght JYJ have lose many things, but indeed they have gained more love from all fans which have become family with JYJ, such as me. So JYJ FIGHTING. We will always be here and always keep the faith!!
KPOP HERALD’S JYJ AND JUNSU controversy article was good until they got to the end and out of nowhere praise EXO for winning the top award WTH? did that have to do with JYJ?
La verdad es que pense …. y ami que me interesa Exo, lo siento pero esa nota me interesa más por JYJ . Es injusto que sigan asi , estoy indignada .
JYJ estamos con ustedes ❤ ❤ ❤
It’s a shame they’re trying to ruin them.
It won’t work though. To many people love them.
I remember Jaejoong withdrawing his appearance from the mbc awards in 2014. It was an abrupt decision. He had even tweeted prior to attending his excitedness about attending. SM interference anyone?
That’s right. JJ had even gone to the Red Velvet and had his hair done. Then suddenly it was announced that due to clash with his filming schedule he wouldn’t be able to attend which of course was one big BS
Wow, SME is stepping up their game! Before it was just variety and music shows. They don’t want people to see how successful JYJ is without their former company. They also don”t want their own artists to be compared to JYJ – both as group and solo artists. The more successful JYJ becomes the more seething and hateful SME becomes.
And by the way there’s no “debate” about who is behind the blacklisting of JYJ. We KNOW only too well who’s behind it: SM Entertainment and their infantile vendetta of revenge for getting caught with their pants down, hands in the cookie jar.
Eventhough there’s a lot of pain and hurt and sacrifice, JYJ gained more on their decision to get out from their former agency… Aside from music program broadcast they can do everything and earn more money for themselves… they’ve matured in every aspect and grow as an artist, they have enough freedom. And fans still love them as always. I just wish they just stop using JYJ like using them as ambassador for international.promotion or include them in voting poll just because they can get more money from JYJ fans, that is totally unfair and fraud…JYJ and their fans can do more on their own so I hope they just stop using them and hurting them in the end. There been so many many incident and this is just truly heartbreaking. JYJ are so forgiving and always hopeful but there is only too much pain and hurt a person can take… JYJ fighting. Be brave coz us fans are always there for you and love u.
Even though despite of many things that have/had happen to JYJ, they still going strong. There’s a saying “KARMA will come”, so when that time and day comes, which will probably be sooner than later, that’s when JYJ will be even more love and cherish. I’m just going to sit back, relax, support the three of them, listen to their music, and being their fan forever and ever..JYJ HWAITING!!!!!!
I hope karma comes quick because I’m sick and tired of this issue happening over and over again.
being their fan in both era I can tell being a JYJ is much mure interesting than being an SM idol. their journey as JYJ is more rich, successful and real, also happier in both personal and professional levels. it is hard to leave a status where an entire industry was pushing them to TOP, to a status where the entire industry is against them. their success as JYJ is much more tasty. I’m really proud of these three men, now they are not only a successful idol group , but successful Drama/Movie/Musical actors and successful solo artists. all the three achieved their dreams as artists, composed their own music, and choose genres they always dreamed of but never got the opportunity on SME. to make it short they became the artists they dreamed to be
To get their freedom worthed all the sacrifices they did. to be the successful artists they are today worth all the respect and praises. as long as JYJ are successful SM will always be full of hatred, what heppened to Junsu in the ceremony which is not being invited even though he’s a winner is the top thing SME can do, one thing they can’t change is JYJ are the winner 😉
I love how you said this! I feel so proud to be a JYJ fan, they are three truly remarkable young men! I don’t think they would have been able to grow or achieve the things they have if they had stayed under SME. And you know the old saying is true, “Living well is the best revenge!”