JYJ is a K-pop trio composed of Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu. They used to be members of TVXQ, a K-pop boy quintet. However, the three filed a lawsuit against S.M. Entertainment, their agency at the time, in 2009 and founded a new group among themselves called JYJ in 2010. K-pop Herald has put together some pre-debut and family photos of each member.

Jaejoong

(left: online comunity, right: Kamilie's flickr)

Jaejoong when he was a baby (online community)

Jaejoong said in “Happy Together,” which aired on KBS in October of 2008, that he had moved to Seoul alone at the age of 15 to partake in S.M. Entertainment auditions. He was unable to afford the rent of 150,000 won ($135.00) at the time, so he sold gum and appeared as an extra in the film, “TaeGukGi: Brotherhood of War”(2003).

On Nov 1 of 2006, Jaejoong‘s biological father pressed charges against Jaejoong’s adoptive parents. He claimed the reason for the charges was that Jaejoong was registered under both his biological parents and adoptive parents, which complicated legal matters that are necessary for Jaejoong‘s military draft (South Korea has a mandatory military service that is enforced on all eligible male citizens between the age of 18 and 35).

On Nov 22 of that year, Jaejoong released a statement saying, “I found out a few years ago that I have biological parents who had named me ’Han Jae-joon.‘ Ever since I found that out, I got in touch with my biological mother and have been on good terms with both my biological mother and my adoptive parents. I hope that my biological and adoptive parents can reach an agreement and be on good terms.”

An acquaintance of Jaejoong said in an interview with local media at the time, “Jaejoong found out two or three years ago about his biological parents and spent days crying. The recent lawsuit and the publicity of it led Jaejoong to cry very much again.”

Jaejoong’s biological father withdrew charges on Nov. 28, saying, “Jaejoong is being hurt by the legal dispute. It is as if two sides are each pulling Jaejoong‘s arm. I decided I should let go of his arm.”

Jaejoong was born in 1986 and was adopted by the Kims in 1989.

Junsu

(left: online community, right: Kamilie's flickr)

left: Junsu, middle: Junsu's father, right: Junsu's brother (Junsu's Twitter)

left: Junsu, middle: Junsu's parents, right: Junsu's brother (Junsu's Twitter)

left: Junsu, middle: Junsu's mother, right: Junsu's brother (Junsu's Twitter)

Junsu was in the same class as Eunhyuk from Super Junior, a K-pop boy group, when they were in sixth grade. The two formed a dance group and have been best friends since.

Below is a clip of an audition that Junsu had prior to becoming a singer. When a judge tells Junsu, “Please provide a self-explanation for thirty seconds,” Junsu says, “I am good at everything except academics... except academics... I am not that bad at academics.”



Junsu is currently dating Hani, a member of K-pop girl group EXID. Lee Doo-hee, a programmer and a mutual acquaintance of Junsu and Hani, had set the two up after he saw Junsu watching a clip of Hani and hearing from Junsu that he is a fan of her.

Yoochun

left: Park Yoo-hwan, middle: mother, right: Park Yoo-chun (Park Yoo-hwan's Twitter)

top- right: mother, middle: Park Yoo-hwan, right: Park Yoo-chun bottom - right: Park Yoo-hwan, middle: mother, right: Park Yoo-chun (online community)

Yoochun grew up in Seoul before he immigrated to Virginia, the United States, with his parents in 1998, when he was in 6th grade. He has a younger brother, Park Yoo-hwan, who is an actor.

Yoochun became the subject of four sexual assault charges in June. He was acquitted of all charges in July. The first woman who accused Park and her cousin were arrested for false accusations and attempted blackmail. Although Park is cleared of sexual charges, he has been indicted without detention for soliciting prostitution and fraud, as the police found out that Park had promised monetary compensation for intercourse but did not pay the woman.

By Lee Ji-hae (jihlee@heraldcorp.com)

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