Two issues here, I guess? First JYJ in general and second is their break from SM?

I think that they are a talented group of guys who are slightly lost at sea, since suddenly they don’t have a dedicated production team to tell them what to do, which choreography to learn and which songs to promote.

In terms of their actual existence, as an entity, I am somewhat conflicted in the sense that I appreciate what they did at the same time as wanting to condemn it.

They certainly raised awareness to the nature of some of the contracts that rookies are dumb enough (not forced) to sign. In the future it may protect debutant artists, but remember that any industry doesn’t do work for charity: where a company is forced to compromise its profits (in this case, not getting the full use of its trained talent), it will find some other way of doing so. So while JYJ may have shortened contracts in the industry, rookie artists may have contracts in which the small print gives them next to nothing or pays them in company shares. Not only this, trainees that enjoyed small allowances, dormitories and small luxuries may find that potential costs that their sunbaes may incur are cut from their budget.
 

The impact JYJ had on the industry may well be one step forward, two steps back: notionally it seems better, but in reality the problems may now be completely away from the public eye.

Now, about their break. It’s easy for fangirls to blame SM for all their woes and to demonise them in comparison to other companies. Whenever I read comments that do this, I know that the writer knows nothing about K-Pop and should sit back down and read more about its history.

Besides, every company is the same and seeks profits as a long-term objective. It isn’t some artsy college music society: K-Pop is a multi-million dollar industry with the potential for billions in expansion across the continent.

JYJ breaking their contracts goes against everything I believe in. They made a promise at debut in the form of a contract, keeping their heads down while earning fame under the direction of SM, before deciding they wanted more money. They went to a higher power to try to break that promise. A man must stick to his word, no matter how painful the consequences. Without that, he is without honour.

Let’s break it down. In the end, JYJ chose money over all, yes over all things. They were successful enough to be allowed creative input into their activities, so the artistic issue is right out the window already. And one should be judged by actions, not words, and their actions speak volumes.

They said Always Keep the Faith.

We thought they’d be five forever.

They chose to leave the group. They chose to leave Yunho and Changmin behind. They chose money over their two other members. They chose to break the trust of those who made them who they are today. They succumbed to greed, no matter how fans wish to put it… and that reality is the sad truth.