no, just no.

(actual footage of people trying to feed me about tvxq not being popular anymore.)

Hello hello. Looks like its time for another blog from me about how wrong some fans in the kpop scene are being again. I honestly don't know how many times these points I'm about to put across have to be done for people to actually listen but I'll keep doing it until I go bloody blue in the face.

So today I was scrolling through Instagram when a post about idols losing their popularity came up. Guess who was the first group mentioned? 

That's right, TVXQ. Now I'm assuming the post meant Yunho and Changmin as they're the only two members left under the name TVXQ but my god could this not be any more inaccurate. Yes, I'm a Cassie so whilst for some of you that might automatically erase any validity within my argument here, it also gives an insight of someone who follows the facts about the group and their successes over the decade they've been working.

Popularity as a definition for this discussion will be along the lines of an understanding of how many people know of a group, listen to their music, how much recognition the group gets and so on.

First point is going to be the fans in general. Cassies often come in two types (like a lot of fan bases). You get the OTT kind that's die hard and sometimes are sasaengs as well, to the point of the whole stalking, poisoning and violation business. Then you have the other type who are calmer, older and don't tend to have much of a presence on social media. Why? Remember how TVXQ celebrated 10 years since debut not too long ago? That means their Cassies, their fans have grown up with them, finish school, find jobs but unlike the idols have been given the chance to also find love and start families of their own. You might laugh and say wow so TVXQ's fans are a bunch of middle aged women now that's so lame. But honestly to have fans loyal for THAT long is amazing. How many times have you or I swapped interests to another group because they might be more active or have released a song you're really digging now, over your "bias" group? It doesn't make you bad, just human, but then think back to the fans that have spent over ten years with TVXQ and then the ones that even after the split decided to still support and enjoy JYJ and TVXQ's entertainment. Pretty cool right? The fandom, and I mean Cassies (including out of South Korea) and The Big East (Japan) have become known for their sheer mass in numbers and support for the group. Back in 2008 their official fanclub numbers were at 800,000 which is just mind blowing, especially considering they were still fresh to the scene. And you can say that that's not their current numbers, and you're right, it probably isn't, what with the split and younger kpop fans generally not showing an interest in the "older" idols those stats have no doubt gone down over the years. But, TVXQ is still very popular.

Did you know they were the first Korean group to headline their own tour at Tokyo Dome? So you know how you see all those awesome fancams of your favourite groups like EXO or BTS at Tokyo Dome? Guess who made such a thing possible by setting an example. TVXQ. In 2014 before they'd enlisted (Yunho and Changmin) they'd brought the largest amount of concert goers in the last three years with numbers of up to 2 million people, and that was barely 3 years ago so if you're thinking these previous facts are in the past and don't equate an argument for losing popularity currently... well there you go. Stuff like "The duo's 42nd Japanese single "Time Works Wonders", released in 2014, pushed TVXQ's CD single sales in Japan to 4.09 million copies, making TVXQ the best-selling foreign music act in CD singles of all time." is pretty damn amazing to me. Again, this was just before enlistment time and shows their current popularity is still up there. Go Google some of the pair's stats, I'm pretty sure you'll be astonished and just how much they've done, especially when it comes to donating and just how much money they make SM - which by the way, until a couple of EXO's comebacks ago (that's a weird saying) guess who made the most income for one of the Big 3 entertainment companies. Go on, just guess.

If you want to talk about the pair not having been active of late its because, yes, they're in the military, well Changmin is since Yunho came out a couple months ago but Changmin will be returning as well and soon they're going to be back showing up here there and everywhere. Even within the military, TVXQ have been popular. Changmin and Yunho have been asked to perform during their service for the other soldiers and so on, you can find pictures of them online doing so and hey, there was even a freaking YunJae moment that blew the internet up for a bit.

Beautiful. ANYWAY. Speaking of the military, did you guys know there was a surge of middle-aged women joining the army in Japan when they learned the date of Changmin and Yunho's enlistment? I'm telling you these Cassie "moms" don't get any cooler. They figured if their "oppas" were going to enlist for two years then they'd do it too to show their support. Still think they're no popular? Not sure how many of you watch the shows, but the older shows from the kpop scene are actually generally a lot more fun, definitely less scripted and more carefree. TVXQ are often in high demand for these shows and when they'd appear on them people would literally lose their . Japan is particularly in love with TVXQ (yes, present tense) and thus a lot of their popularity has come from there. Guys, I'm not kidding. You go to Japan and you mention "To Ho Shin Ki" (also look out for this - 東方神起) and I guarantee young or old, they'll know exactly who you're talking about. When I was in college (about 3 years ago now) my Sensei had us make posters using Japanese to show off whatever we were interested in. Being me, I did a TVXQ one wondering if she'd recognise them and sure enough, my Sensei even had a bias and yes, she was from Japan, married and had children. She admitted to not knowing them very well but she knew who they were (named all five) which was enough. (She still has my poster up on the walls btw #stillproud #represent).

Someone is likely going to comment on this telling me I'm getting upset because people just don't know who they are and yeah, I'm not going to lie, that upsets me. I really wish people would take the time to look at the older groups or solo acts, beyond TVXQ too, like H.O.T and Sechs Kies, even BoA, the latter two of which are still going by the way. There's a certain lack of respect for the seniors who have made certain things popular for the newer idols to be enjoying, from the show trends to the venues for performances. Not to say the newer groups don't deserve their own recognition or that all (younger fans in particular) are like this, but they don't deserve to be called founders of kpop and gods in terms of setting milestones and popularity. Most of them don't even vonsider themselves like that, and not because they're shy or of humility but because they know they're just personally not there yet. And not without a nod towards the sunbaes first, at the very least. So how many of your idol's idols are actually TVXQ? Yeah you can say especially within SM they're told to say that but Super Junior are perfectly fine as an example of one of the older sunbae groups to look up to, but countless times people have picked TVXQ.

Go ahead, look up just how many people have TVXQ as their sunbaes, you'll probably be surprised. With Changmin returning soon you can be sure you'll see another comeback setting records and hitting the top of charts, not to mention the duo partaking in more shows, dramas, and rejoining their SM family for more tours and concerts.

Don't forget TVXQ were one fo the groups that had to build more from the ground up than their hoobaes have had to. And they've had to deal with sasaengs when things were harder to hone in on, so much so that TVXQ and Super Junior had to keep on changing apartments like every month and even shorter sometimes, to the point they didn't even unpack their boxes and just lived out of them. But despite those times they've made so much for themselves that not enough people appreciate. And I'm happy seeing SM family together, with all the hugs and performances together, like do you remember the spectrum performance? Perfection. It had the generations of SM performing together and it was soooo good.

So this definition of "popular" seems very askew and incorrect in its use here. I guarantee you that TVXQ is still current, relevant and popular and will only get more so what with the duo being reunited in the next coming months. So for the love of god, please, please let these posts about TVXQ, literal "Gods of the East" losing their popularity just end and stop being so ridiculous. And also the stigma around a group that might actually be losing popularity, which usually isn't even the groups fault. U-Kiss and MBLAQ for examples, two great groups that have been through a lot of changes over the years but ultimately neglected by their representative companies which lead to departure of members among other reasons. That right there is a shame, especially when the groups are shown so much love from overseas but the companies themselves fail to do the groups right and get them where they should be. Does it mean a group is bad or that their music is bad? No, no it doesn't. It means not enough people are getting to hear it and appreciate it, and it isn't their fault, its not the artists fault, they're still working hard and doing what they can. Besides, who actually benefits from these posts about idols "losing" popularity? Does it just make some fans get a kick out of not seeing their favourites up there on the lists? If it does then, well, shame, because people should just be happy supporting their groups and enjoying the awards of recognition when they get them, not just when someone has tossed in some groups who might have been less active or struggling at the time.

Be supportive. Not just of your group, but if someone else's faves are having a hard time then don't go being mean to them, or saying they're not popular, or whatever else. Just reassure them, maybe ask them what they like about the group if you're not into them yet, share songs, write some freaking crack ship fanfics for god sake. Just... time to be less aggressive, negative and putting others down and instead enjoying more of what kpop has to offer. The idols already work it as a competitive business, and as fans we support them as best we can, but pretty sure they'd be sad to see stuff like this, and would definitely jump in on defending their sunbaes.

Okay I think I'm done. I wasn't going to write this, left it for like an hour but then I was still being irritated because I know how much people buy into those videos and believe in them and just- Its toxic and I knew I had to write something even if I'm going to have people tell me I'm being defensive or whatever else. But, that's okay. At the end of the day I'm happy to listen to discussions, but I won't be engaging in comments that are just looking for a fight.

As the Cassies believe, AKTF (Always Keep The Faith) and good things will come your way. Hope you guys are enjoying your Sunday and if you made it to the end of this hella long blog, then thank you for spending time doing so. Have a good week ahead everyone!