TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi[1] (traditional Chinese: ), is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003

under SM Entertainment. In South Koreathey are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki[2][3] (Korean: ), often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; and in Japan as Tohoshinki (Japanese: ). Their name translates as "The Rising Gods of the East".[4][5] The group debuted in 2003 as a 5 member group consisting of leader U-Know Yunho ( ), Max Changmin ( ), Hero Jaejoong ( ), Micky Yoochun ( ) and Xiah Junsu ( ). In July 2009, the latter three filed for an injunction against their Korean agency SM Entertainment. This led to TVXQ ceasing all public activities and appearances after 2009. After a hiatus that lasted 2 years and 3 months, TVXQ returned as a duo consisting of Yunho and Changmin. TVXQ is one of Asia's most successful acts and has been labelled as "Asia's Stars"[6] and "Kings of the Hallyu Wave" for their immense success and contributions to Korean pop.[7][8][9] Since their debut, TVXQ released 5 Korean albums, 5 Japanese albums, over 20 Korean singles and over 30 Japanese singles. According to Gaon Chart, TVXQ has sold over 9.1 million copies throughout their career in Korea and Japan alone, excluding sales from other Asian and international countries.[citation needed] TVXQs The Best Selection 2010 broke several records for being the first foreign male artists to pass over the 700,000 mark in Japan.[10] They have two official fanclubs in Korea and Japan, known respectively as Cassiopeia and BigEast, the former which notably earned a Guinness World Record in 2008 for its size and is said to be one of the largest fan clubs in the world.[11]