After filing a lawsuit against SM Entertainment and leaving the label, it was revealed that his relationship with Lee Soo Man soured.
Here's how they reconciled.
On June 26, JYJ Kim Jaejoong graced the K-pop scene with his heavenly idol skills by releasing his 20th debut anniversary album, "FLOWER GARDEN."
To commemorate his comeback, the media interviewed the K-pop icon, where he opened up about various topics including his past conflict with SM Entertainment and its founder Lee Soo Man.
Jaejoong, prior to establishing his own label inKODE in 2023, originally debuted under SM Entertainment in 2003 as a TVXQ member.
While the group received overwhelming love from the music scene, their career as a quintet was short-lived after Jaejoong, along with Junsu and Yoochun, filed a lawsuit against SM due to unfair contract.
The trio left the company in 2009. Due to the conflict, Jaejoong was banned by SM from major broadcasting channels, and if he was able to appear, he was often edited out or erased from the episode.
Jaejoong being blacklisted lasted for about 15 years, implying that their accumulated grievances weren't resolved.
However, the wind of change started to blow last year when SM Entertainment sent a congratulatory wreath to Jaejoong when he launched his label, inKODE.
While there are people who raised their brows against SM for doing so, Jaejoong finally revealed what he truly felt at the time.
"I was happy and grateful that the best entertainment company in Korea extended their support to me. I think SM is a company that should coexist rather than be an enemy."
Aside from the company itself, the icon also shared that his relationship with Lee Soo Man, which turned bad after leaving SM, was resolved.
"A few years ago, I met teacher Lee Soo Man by chance on a plane to Japan. At that time, I gave him a handwritten letter saying, 'There was a conflict, but as time went by and I thought about it, I think it was my teacher who gave me the courage to become myself.'
[Teacher Lee Soo Man] said he boasted about it to his SM friends, and it is a meaningful place as it is the company that gave birth to me.”
On the other hand, Jaejoong's special album which is a gift to his fans consists of a total of 13 songs including the title track, "Glorious Day."
The song wants to express his gratitude to fans who made every moment with him a glorious day. The album also wants to convey Jaejoong's desire to walk on a flowery path with his supporters from now on.
Watch Jaejoong's "Glorious Day" MV here!
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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
