TVXQ! "We're Only Half Way There" - Part. 2

TVXQ! members Max Changmin (left) and U-Know Yunho (right) pose together with a black dog in a photo released for the duo's sixth album "Catch Me," dropped on September 24, 2012. [SM Entertainment]

<#10_QMARK#>Is there any special reason why you chose "I Don't Know" among all your Japanese singles to put in the new album?
<#10_AMARK#>Changmin: We were actually planning to use that track for our previous release here. It even had a set choreography. We loved it so much that we thought making it compete or be compared to "Keep Your Head Down" wasn't right. Saving it for later was for the better. The tune was made two years ago.

<#10_QMARK#>Do you plan to perform "I Swear" on TV?
<#10_AMARK#>Changmin: I don't have any plans for it yet. There was never a time when I made a song just for my fans. I wrote the lyrics to "I Swear" to express how I feel about them after all the troubles we've gone through the last nine years. They probably know but I wanted to make them feel assured. Saying it in words and just keeping it inside yourself have a huge difference. Rather than singing it on TV, I'll do it at concerts or our world tour. It'll be nice if they could sing along.

<#10_QMARK#>Yunho, why didn't you write or compose any song this time?
Yunho: I have my own rule. I only write and compose songs to sing at concerts. If I were to put a self-composed and -written track in albums, I don't think I'll be able to control myself and work day and night to work on it. You become greedy when writing songs. It's much better to leave it to professionals than to waste time doing it myself. So my tunes are concert-only.

<#10_QMARK#>Do you want to try acting?
<#10_AMARK#>Yunho: I really do. Changmin and I both want to try acting but I don't know when that will be. But I think it's time to focus on our root: music. We first need to solidify ourselves in the field we're working in order to broaden our activities. If the root is unstable, we don't have a place to come back. But we are looking into it for sure.

TVXQ! member Max Changmin poses in a simple a photo released for the duo's sixth album "Catch Me," dropped on September 24, 2012. [SM Entertainment]

<#10_QMARK#>You guys have been under SM Entertainment for almost ten years now. What do you think has changed over the past decade?
<#10_AMARK#>Yunho: When we were the youngest in the agency, we used to ask a lot of questions to senior artists. But now, we're the ones who receive questions. They're all hard-working people who dream about becoming great artists, so we use carrots and sticks. But for some that stick doesn't work sometimes. I try to give more tips to people who try hard. I'm not pressured by the thought that we should have a sense of responsibility as senior members, but our labelmates treat us like mentors, so that sort of give us that duty. It's been nine years already... Nine years.

<#10_QMARK#>Including yourselves, there are a number of artists that have contributed to the spread of the Korean wave. In what way do you think you have influenced each other?
<#10_AMARK#>Yunho: BoA took the lead in Hallyu. Back then, Korean pop culture was not that popular abroad and she basically planted the seeds for Hallyu. It was relatively easier for us to promote ourselves thanks to her effort. Starting from the bottom, we've slowly increased the number of the audience in Japan from a few hundred to ten thousands. Then Super Junior and Girls' Generation began their activities abroad. They're all influential figures in terms of Hallyu. I want to make it clear that without the efforts of these artists, K-pop would not have developed to this point. K-pop singers now have a fairly good environment to jump into overseas markets and I hope we all can make better cultural content by working hard.

<#10_QMARK#>You probably have a goal that you set before making debut as idol stars. How much have you achieved?
<#10_AMARK#>Changmin: About half. I think I'm already at a half point of success by keeping a firm foothold in this field even after nine years of making debut. Countless number of rookie idol stars break into the music scene every year and sadly, most of them soon get forgotten by people. Surviving from that battle for over nine years is a pretty big achievement. We should work on the other half from now. Watching Shinhwa members continuing their career to cement their own brand even after 14 years of debut, I thought this is what we and other singers have to learn. Keeping a firm identity in music and filling the other 50 percent by doing extra activities is how Korean artists should develop their career.

<#10_QMARK#>PSY made a record-breaking achievement on the Billboard in 12 years of his singing career. You guys spent nine years as singers so you still have three years for a huge success like that.
<#10_AMARK#>Changmin: It's not an easy market to succeed. Luck, timing and the addictive dance moves all followed to make him stand proud on the global stage. He produced a song that appeals to the global audiences and it went viral through YouTube. Once people have their attention towards K-pop, they'll begin to wonder what's next and what's beyond "Gangnam Style." To prevent this from becoming a transient boom, all Korean singers should work hard to develop K-pop. It's all up to us [Korean artists]. PSY made everything possible because he had his unique character as a weapon. I think we'll have a chance soon; Not just TVXQ! but all Korean musicians will.

<#10_QMARK#>If you were to choose a song by other singers that you wish it was yours, which one would that be?
<#10_AMARK#>Changmin: Definitely SHINee's "Replay." Even now, when I listen to it, it's very trendy. When SHINee members were promoting the tune, we were performing "MIROTIC." Seeing them singing and dancing to the feel-good single, I was so jealous. It's a very nice song.

<#10_QMARK#>Are you planning anything special for the ten year anniversary next year?
<#10_AMARK#>Yunho: The format has not been set but there will likely be a special event on October 26, when we first made our TV appearance. We're still in negotiation though. Personally, I want it to be a small-size event where I can talk with our fans and receive questions to share thoughts about TVXQ!'s music. I don't know if that can work out though.

※ Any copying,
republication or redistribution of 10Asia's content is expressly prohibited without prior consent of 10Asia. Copyright infringement is subject to criminal and civil penalties.