TOHOSHINKI TVXQ

2003: Debut

Before debut, there were several tentative names for the group. Each member was to come up with ideas for the name of the group. The three names suggested were Oh Jang Yook Bu (오장육부, the five visceras), Jun Muhk Go, (전설을 먹고 사는 고래, A Whale That Eats Legends), and Dong Bang Bul Pae (동방불패, the Korean title of Ashes of Time). The group decided on Dong Bang Bul Pae, and Lee Soo Man asked the film's director for permission to use the name. In the end, however, the name was rejected because its Hanja was not aesthetically pleasing, and the group name was changed instead to Dong Bang Shin Ki.
TVXQ made their first appearance on December 26, 2003 during a BoA Showcase. They performed their debut song "Hug" as well as an a cappella rendition of "O Holy Night" alongside BoA. The group released two singles ("Hug" and "The Way U Are"), accompanied by photo books in the following year. TVXQ reached #1 on Korean music charts in three months after their debut. In October 2004, the first album Tri-Angle was released.
Their official fan club derives its name from the Cassiopeia constellation near the Little Dipper. The constellation consists of 5 main stars, and TVXQ has 5 members. When traced on a computer keyboard, "TVfXQ" resembles Cassiopeia.
SM Entertainment once considered adding a Chinese member to the group and rotate members to help boost popularity in other countries, as hinted in The 3rd StoryBook - TVfXQ!. The purpose would have been to branch each member into different solo activities, or possibly combine other trainees into the group. However, the idea was abandoned due to opposition from fans who threatened to boycott SM Entertainment products.

2005: Second Korean album Rising Sun

During 2005, TVXQ expanded its career into Japan. The group marked its official debut in Japan with the release of the single Stay with Me Tonight on April 27, 2005. (Earlier in the year, the English version of their single "Hug" and their first Korean album Tri-Angle had been released in Japan without much attention).
TVXQ continued to release two additional singles entitled "Somebody to Love" and "My Destiny". While in Korea, the group released its second Korean album Rising Sun, which ranked #1 on the monthly charts and #4 for the yearly sales, and continues to chart in the top 100. Due to demand, the album was officially released in other foreign countries in 2007. Weeks before the album's release in Korea, Hero faced a leg injury which prevented him from dancing in the Rising Sun music video or on stage performances and from taking part in some of the album's promotional activities. For group dance sequences on stage he was instead replaced by another dancer.
TVXQ later released a joint single album with label-mate Super Junior, Show Me Your Love which also debuted as #1 on the monthly charts. In addition, the group began acting careers in Banjun Theater drama episodes. Micky Yuchun and U-Know Yunho appeared in guest acting roles for the Nonstop 6 (Rainbow Romance) series. At the end of the year, TVXQ received the Best Music Video award for the song "Rising Sun" and the People's Choice Award at the 2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival.
On June 14, 2005, TVXQ and BoA were appointed as PR spokespeople for the city of Los Angeles in the United States.

2006: Third Korean album and overseas expansion

Before returning to their homeland South Korea with their third album in fall, TVXQ endeavored to spread their influence further in other East Asian countries. They held their first Asian tour, including shows in South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Japan. TVXQ members were the first Korean performers to ever stage a concert in Malaysia for their "Rising Sun 1st Asia Tour" in Bukit Jalil (Putra Indoor Stadium). The tour, in promotion for their 2nd Korean album Rising Sun released in 2005, continued to Bangkok in Thailand at the Impact Arena.
Soon afterwards, the group began to prepare for the first tour in Japan in promotion of its first Japanese album, Heart, Mind and Soul. The members focused on increasing their fluency in Japanese for their activities. TVXQ performed at a-nation, an annual Japanese live summer concert organized by Avex Trax that features J-pop artists under the record label, and released five Japanese singles that year.
The group became the first Asian group to win two Thailand Music Awards, for both Best Music Video ("Rising Sun") and Favorite Asian Artist. They also won the Popular Vote Asia Artist award at the Virgin Hits Awards 2006 in Thailand. Their seventh Japanese single "Sky" hit #6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, and their eighth single, "Miss You/'O'-Sei.Han.Gō", reached #3.[citation needed] In addition, the group has topped both the Japanese and Korean charts on the Malaysian radio show "988" twice with the singles "Begin" and "The Fighting Spirit Of The East"; the show has an audience of about 4.2 million listeners, reaching as far as Singapore.