Kim Jaejoong “I Feel Proud When I See TVXQ Members + Although I Don’t Contact Park Yoochun, He’s Like a Painful Finger”
In an interview with Newsen on June 25th at his agency iNKODE Entertainment’s office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Kim Jaejoong said, “When I was young, I never thought I would look like this 20 years later. I’m grateful for the current reality where I can release a 20th-anniversary album without much change.”
Reflecting on what he imagined his 20th debut anniversary would look like, Kim Jaejoong smilingly shared, “I thought I would be at the pinnacle of adulthood. I thought I would be married and have a family by now, but it seems that was a distant future.”
Kim Jaejoong debuted in 2003 as a member of TVXQ under SM Entertainment, leading the second-generation K-pop wave with numerous hits like “Hug”, “The Way U Are”, “Rising Sun”, “O – Jung.Ban.Hap.” and “Mirotic”.
In 2009, after 6 years of debut, he, along with Kim Junsu and Park Yoochun, filed an injunction against SM Entertainment to suspend the validity of their exclusive contract, leading to a legal battle. After the injunction was granted, Kim Jaejoong re-debuted in 2010 as a member of JYJ (Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun, Kim Junsu) under C-JeS Entertainment. JYJ also experienced a second peak of success, such as selling out Tokyo Dome concerts. However, after Park Yoochun’s drug scandal in 2019, Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu focused on solo activities. In June last year, Kim Jaejoong established the global entertainment company iNKODE Entertainment, continuing his career as CSO (Chief Strategy Officer) and as an artist.
When asked about the most challenging moment in his 20-year career, Kim Jaejoong replied, “There were too many crises to count. Just thinking about them makes me break out in a cold sweat. Everyone makes mistakes and faces crises. How you endure and overcome mistakes and crises is the key. I’ve never felt like I was working in a perfectly safe zone.“
He added, “Of course, having an agency (SM Entertainment) and members (TVXQ) was an advantage, but the group hasn’t been complete for a long time, and even with JYJ, I relied on solo activities. I had to toughen up on my own. I didn’t think I was strong; I lived relying on the strength and support of those around me.”
Kim Jaejoong also expressed his affection for TVXQ members. He said, “I’m so proud of how well the members are doing, except for one (Park Yoochun). Changmin (Max Changmin) has started a family, and the others have found their own happiness and value. They are all doing great, and I think I should work hard to keep up with them.”
About Park Yoochun, Kim Jaejoong confessed, “I’ve sighed a lot about him. He’s like a painful finger to me. I haven’t contacted him (since the drug incident). I don’t know where he is or which country he’s in.”