TVXQ (often stylized TVXQ! or TVXQ), an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi (traditional Chinese: 東方神起; simplified Chinese: 东方神起; pinyin: Dōngfāngshēnqǐ; Korean: 동방신기; Japanese: Tōhōshinki), is a South Korean pop quintet formed under SM Entertainment in 2003. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (동방신기), often abbreviated as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki (東方神起 Tōhōshinki?) under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone in 2005. Their name translates as "The Rising Gods of the East".
In 2008, with the release of their sixteenth Japanese single, "Purple Line", which debuted atop the Oricon single chart, TVXQ became the fifth non-Japanese Asian artist and the first male foreign group to have a number-one single on the chart. With their twenty-third single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?", TVXQ set a new record, becoming the first foreign artist to have three singles debut atop the chart. In 2010, with the release of their thirtieth single, "Toki o Tomete", TVXQ extended their record, making them the first foreign artist to have eight number-one singles on the Oricon.
In February 2010, with the release of TVXQ's first Japanese compilation album which sold around 413,000 copies on the first week of its release, TVXQ set the record for the highest first-week sales by a foreign group, which was last set by Bon Jovi in 1995 for 379,000 copies.
Following the filing of their lawsuit, three members of TVXQ: Micky Yoochun, Hero Jaejoong, and Xiah Junsu debuted in Japan in 2010 as JYJ, and later made a global debut in October with the English language album The Beginning. Meanwhile, U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin, who are under SM Entertainment's contract, continue their music career under the name TVXQ starting with a new album, Keep Your Head Down, released in South Korea in early January 2011. Even with TVXQ working like two split units, the 5-membered TVXQ is still technically on hiatus.
Korean studio albums Tri-angle (2004) Rising Sun (2005) "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (2006) Mirotic (2008) Keep Your Head Down (2011) Korean compilation albums Christmas Gift from Dong Bang Shin Gi (2004) Japanese studio albums Heart, Mind and Soul (2006) Five in the Black (2007) T (2008) The Secret Code (2009) Japanese compilation albums Best Selection 2010 (2010)
