‘I no longer hate TVXQ’: JYJ’s Yoochun

Yoochun, actor and member of K-pop boy band JYJ, cautiously revealed his feelings about his former group TVXQ in an interview with a local daily.

The singer-turned-actor had an interview with the Korean media outlet Edaily on Aug. 13 shortly before the release of his new film “Sea Fog” released the same day.

In the interview, he was asked how he felt about his former band TVXQ and its members. 

“I hope the five of us can do well in our position. I don’t know when, but it would be cool if all of us could come together to drink soju,” Yoochun said.

The 28-year-old star debuted as a member of K-pop idol group TVXQ in 2004, and left the team in 2009 for JYJ with two fellow members -- Junsu and Jaejoong. The trio filed a lawsuit against their then-label SM Entertainment for what they claimed was an unfair contract.

TVXQ now consists of Yunho and Changmin, who decided to stay in the group.

Yoochun said that he has been “happy” about his career since he departed from TVXQ. The trio have continued their activities as singers with two studio albums dropped so far. But they also broadened their presence as actors in dramas and musicals.

“As time goes by, I questioned myself ... What was all that for? Each of us made own choices for our lives,” Yoochun said. “I no longer hate them. I hope we all could be happy.”

His remarks come as a surprise given the emotional conflicts between JYJ and TVXQ shown in public.

Yoochun also said that he looks forward to seeing Yunho’s acting in the drama “The Night Watchman,” which is broadcast every Monday and Tuesday on MBC.

His group JYJ released its second studio album “Just Us” on July 29, and is now on its Asia concert tour “The Return of The King.” The trio will head to China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand to continue the tour.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)