Jung Yunho: Part one of a Duet

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the

darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed if there is light from within-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross



The video for the first K chart win for Keep Your Head Down on Music Bank can still be seen on YouTube. Standing silently perhaps unaware of the noise around him, what we see is a serious Yunho standing next to Changmin. Arms in front of him, the hosts next to him saying the numbers for the K Chart, the crowd cheering, Yunho was a painting of uncertainty. You could tell he was expecting something else than winning. He was ready to set himself to walk away and begin another day. Suddenly, he heard TVXQ wins on Music Bank. That face that was so far away suddenly appeared to be alive with a smile, a smile that made you follow suit. At this moment, a silent realization forms. This is the Jung Yunho, the leader of TVXQ that we cannot help but admire. In those few seconds we saw why we cannot help but respect the man that is more than just a dancer and singer in the K Pop world; he is a humble and selfless human being.

Children always have the most clean and immense dreams. Time provides us with the elements to find more about our own personalities. It would start very soon for Jung Yunho. In 8th grade he was part of a dance Team named A+. We can only imagine how he enthusiastically danced along with friends who to this day share memories with each other. Yunho is part of TVXQ but there has always been an essence to Yunho that is quite simple. There is an aura that emanates from him now as a man on stage. He exudes charisma, power and assurance. All of these traits are part of his personality we know but even now as the person he is widely known for, he still visits and shares time with the friends he once shared the same dream with. The ones that remind him that he is still that goofy, protective and selfless country boy from Gwangju.

He started SM auditions in junior high for the SM Best Junior contest. What stood out the most from a young kid who was leaving everything behind to follow a feeling, a small dream was the sheer determination to do what he was set out to do. When in Seoul he had his audition however the first day in a city he was getting a culture shock from he ran into some hoodlums, “I prepared a CD then, but they took it away, I was beaten up but kept begging at least do not take the CDs! You can hit me but do not take the CDs!” Anyone else would have just given everything up but that small struggle showed just how resilient Yunho can be. His resolve and blunt character is also one that can be seen when he reached the auditions. He arrived and he saw the judges were cutting everyone down to 10-15 seconds max for singing and dancing. So you had to show your best in those few seconds to impress the people who could either open another door or shut it to try again. We can only imagine a blunt Yunho stepping in to start his audition looking at the judges saying the following, “Once it was my turn I sang, I love you, no it is not enough and bowed and said Thank you. They asked why did you stop. I said you’re going to stop it anyway”. The same attitude was for his dance routine. At this point if they were not looking at him with some kind of interest anyone else would have been intrigued. Luckily enough they saw the spark in this young boy and decided to bring him on board. Despite being beaten up and getting his CD taken away, being away from home, being alone in a huge city he made it into SM. Trainee life would start but that doesn’t mean everything was flowers and roses, it was a time where he would be challenged in every way.

An inevitable fact presents itself in that when we migrate to another country or city there are certain things we have to learn. Sometimes we have to change how we do things on a daily basis. Yunho, coming from the country had to adapt to Seoul. One of those intricacies would be his dialect. Also, not being under his parent’s care anymore he would have to earn money somehow to support himself therefore he took part time jobs to be able to live, often sleeping in train stations or parks. He was growing up, learning, and also facing many hardships on his own. It might not have been easy but this is a side of Yunho anyone can relate too, just working to make our dreams happen.

It all might have started as a small dream. Time allows us to expand them, make them flourish. Dreams might be too much of a fluffy word but it starts as something small, a cloud perhaps. Our determination, passion and energy makes that very small cloud expand into a sky that is now clear and worth of watching. It rains every now and then but part of living is seeing how much fortitude and willingness we have within ourselves to see the end result.

Yunho went through the SM program for trainees, made it into TVXQ and with time proved to be an overall achiever. Not only was he succeeding with TVXQ as one of the best dancers but he was giving away scholarships, giving advice to his juniors and taking care of those around him. Many times he has said that the effort of all of the staff is what makes everything happen. Yunho is a person that knows that behind TVXQ is a mass of great people that also have talents of their own to make everything happen. This goes from the person driving you to your next photo shoot to the person actually handling that expensive camera. It is this side of Yunho that every fan appreciates and admires. So much so that he inspires those around him to work hard.

This leads me to a trait that Yunho has that is very admirable. Once on Music Japan, Changmin was asked what kind of animal he would compare Yunho too? His response to that was a tiger. We can see that in the way Yunho nurtures, cares and protects TVXQ. By protecting TVXQ it is not just the name itself but the people that make it what it is. He cares and looks out for his friend and the other half of TVXQ, Shim Changmin. This was a part of Yunho that showed early on. When a fight broke out on his school grounds he put himself in the middle to try to break up the fight or to try to let them see some kind of sense. There will be times where our protection and care is not enough. At times certain things happen that can make us wonder where we might have failed. When did everything slip from my fingers, when just seconds ago we had a firm grip on what we were trying to desperately salvage. This became a situation Yunho had to face unfortunately, “I may be through many trials and tribulations in the future, and I may sometimes become depressed, the current Yunho is because of all of your support. Even during sad, happy, or difficult days, I think I will be able to do my best even more, thinking about all of your support.” It is an element that Yunho has always presented, the one that he can make it but the support from other people who wish him the best is what makes him shine, the ones that love and care for him.

He can be very open, even when his persona is a manly one. A person that is blunt but mixed in with all of his intricacies lies a man that despite his own storyline of hardships his heart and mind are open to the world. We can catch glimpses of it and it makes you smile at the fact that this man who never gives up despite pain, despite doubt, he keeps marching forward. He is only human and of course there might be times when he feels out of bounds. The most extraordinary of things is that he appreciates everything from the smallest to the most important. Everything is part of the big picture. Everyone is important; every thought deserves to be heard. All of these traits mold themselves into who Jung Yunho has become and is becoming.

Yunho has led TVXQ up until now with care, humility and love. Not only has this country boy from Gwangju managed to be one of the most admired people for being a leader, being a great dancer and a baritone voice that makes one want to hear more, he has become someone that not only enjoys what he does but teaches as he walks the timeline of life. We can’t help but appreciate those that give and learn. Yunho keeps evolving and I hope many will be right behind him waiting for him to unveil what else he has to share with all of us. There is still so much to take in from him. A selfless leader, honest friend, fighter, and a man that with just one laugh makes you feel that all the worries in the world might just not be as big as you once thought, this is Jung Yunho.



Written by: Nubia @ ContinueTVXQ.com