While this K-pop idol was silently blacklisted by SM Entertainment from the Korean entertainment industry, the star revealed being "forced" to change career path due to the ban.
Junsu Reveals He Debuted as Musical Actor After Being Banned From Music Shows
In a broadcast, former TVXQ Kim Junsu revealed how he established an alternative career as a musical actor from being a 2nd-generation legendary K-pop idol.
On September 4, JYJ Junsu appeared as a special guest on the YouTube channel, "Neighborhood Friend Kangnam." The video showed the idol visiting Kangnam's house and having a great time talking and meeting the MC's mother.
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While catching up, Kangnam realized that he was actually the same age as Junsu, and being both 36 years old, the former was torn between using honorifics or dropping them since the latter is a senior artist. Aside from being a K-pop icon, he's also been a huge name in the musical acting industry since 2003.
While on the topic, the MC asked Junsu:
"Why did you do musical?"
Hearing this, Junsu briefly explained:
"I couldn't do broadcast (at the time), so it was like the hilt of the sword that was like the last thing left for me (to do). Therefore, I think I worked harder and immersed myself more into it."
He then invited Kangnam's mother to the musical on the spot, making her heart flutter.
Reason JYJ Junsu Was Banned From Korean Shows By SM Entertainment
For those who don't know, Kim Junsu is a former member of the "Emperor of K-pop" TVXQ along with Kim Jaejoong and Park Yoochun.
Amid fame, the trio, hereinafter JYJ,, decided to file a lawsuit against SM Entertainment in 2009 over unfair contract. The legal battle went on for about 3 years until the case came to an end in 2012.
Despite winning the case and finally being freed from the company, JYJ which is now comprised of only Jaejoong and Junsu suffered the silent "blacklisting" from the television in South Korea imposed by SM Entertainment.
This is the reason the duo decided to actively promote in Japan instead, and their fame in Korea was also affected by the ban. The blacklisting became possible after it was revealed that the company has been using its other popular SM artists as leverage to prevent JYJ's guestings and appearances.
In 2015, the "JYJ law" was passed by the national assembly, which aims to prohibit broadcasting companies, music shows, etc., from refusing an artist's appearance due to a request from a third party unrelated to the production.
However, it was only in 2019 that Junsu was able to appear on terrestrial broadcasting for the first time through MBC's "House of Sharing" after 10 years, and boasted her luxurious house.
During the ban, Junsu was promoting with Jaejoong as JYJ and he also focused on his solo career as Xia.
He also became a musical actor notable for his roles in "Mozart! (2010), "Elisabeth" (2012), "Dracula" (2014), "Death Note" (2015), "Xcalibur" (2019) and many more.
In 2021, he officially left C-JeS Entertainment which became his home for more than 12 years and established his one-man company, Palmtree Island.
READ MORE: JYJ Junsu Establishes Own Label Following Departure from Longtime Agency C-JeS Entertainment
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