This is how a self-proclaimed K-pop ‘permanently retired number’ is born.

It is the sum of the ‘infinite love’ of the living legends towards ‘Team SM’ and the synergy of the agency‘s sincere ‘respect’ that has made it possible for decades.

Kangta and TVXQ, the ‘signboard stars’ of SM Entertainment (SM), announced the news of their contract renewals on the 2nd. All three, who are the ‘start and peak’ of global K-pop, have been with SM since their debut. Their tenures, which can be called SM’s living history, are 29 years for Kangta and 22 years for TVXQ.

Some are jokingly saying, “Many of the pillars that made today‘s SM must have been established by these three,” referring to the three-person performance that has maintained the so-called ‘KaHa’ (career high) for decades. In line with this, some are also talking about Kangta’s management career, who has been an SM non-registered director since 2014, and are picking TVXQ members Yunho and Changmin as the ‘next director candidates.

SM officially announced the renewal of their contracts with TVXQ and Kangta twice that day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Kangta has been a ‘SM man’ since his debut as a member of group H.O.T. in 1996, and Yunho and Changmin have been ‘Franchise stars’ since they first stepped foot as members of TVXQ in 2003.

The thoughts on renewing their contracts with SM for the three legends who have once again pledged a future with them were also special.

Kangta said, “I’m happy to be able to continue my relationship with SM, who has supported me unwaveringly since my trainee days before my debut. I will work hard to show you a better side of myself as an artist and a producer,” and Yunho and Changmin said, “It has been very meaningful to be able to accompany SM for over 20 years. We will draw an even cooler future for TVXQ with SM, which has given us unwavering support and great strength.”

Their ‘success in renewing their ultra-long-term contracts’ is also drawing attention as a part that allows a glimpse into SM’s ‘delicate respect’ for its artists that goes beyond the common expression of ‘loyalty.’ SM expressed their sincerity regarding the contract extension of these legends by saying, “They are precious artists who have been with SM since its 30th anniversary this year.”

Kangta and TVXQ, who have been eating from the same pot for decades, have the common denominator that they are still top tier; the years since their debut are just a number.

TVXQ is scheduled to hold their dream stage, the ‘Tokyo Dome concert’, at the end of this month. The concert will be held for three days from the 25th to the 27th, showing off their continued firepower. Through this concert, TVXQ has reached ‘33 Tokyo Dome concerts, and a total of 92 dome concerts across Japan’, breaking their own record for ‘Most Tokyo Dome and Nationwide Dome Concerts by an Overseas Artist’. The previous title holder was also TVXQ.

In that case, Kangta is active as an artist and the executive producer of the production label SMASHHIT.


Reporter Heo Min-nyeong mignon@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.