Kim Jaejoong to create the 'Second TVXQ'... Announces new boy group launch

Global entertainment company iNKODE is stepping into the production of the next-generation K-pop boy group.

Founded by singer-actor Kim Jaejoong and former Cube Entertainment Vice President Noh Hyuntae, iNKODE Entertainment will hold global auditions titled '2025 iNKODE GLOBAL AUDITION,' starting in Seoul on January 11. These auditions will take place in five cities across Korea (Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Busan, Jeju) and internationally in Japan, China, Thailand, and the United States.

In October, iNKODE successfully debuted its first rookie girl group, SAY MY NAME, which was personally produced by Kim Jaejoong. Their debut has gained attention from foreign media, including coverage by France’s public broadcaster, which documented iNKODE’s trainee development system.

With the goal of debuting its first boy group through the upcoming global auditions, iNKODE aims to discover talents who will shape the future of K-pop.

Jang Yoojin, the former co-producer at Brand New Music who is known for scouting AB6IX members Lee Daehwi and Park Woojin, has been appointed as the head of the new artist development team at iNKODE. This has significantly raised expectations for the new K-pop stars from the company.

Global pre-registration for the auditions began on December 16 at 6 PM via iNKODE Entertainment’s audition email. Anyone born between 2005 and 2015, regardless of gender or nationality, can apply by showcasing their talent in singing, rapping, dancing, or visuals.

Detailed information about the '2025 iNKODE GLOBAL AUDITION' can be found on iNKODE Entertainment’s official website and the trainee development team’s official social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Kim Jaejoong made his debut as a member of TVXQ under SM Entertainment before forming JYJ with Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu. Recently, he has been performing as part of the project group JX with Kim Junsu. At their latest concert, Jaejoong stirred nostalgia by performing songs from his TVXQ days.

theqoo

-Does the company have a lot of money...? It hasn't been that long since they launched Say My Name and now they're already planning a boy group?

-ㄷㄷ Why are the reactions so bad?

-Shouldn't the company focus on Say My Name first...?ㅠㅠ I'm rooting for Hitomi...ㅠㅠ

-Wait... Their girl group has already debuted?? I didn't know that.

-Focus on developing the girl group Say My Name first before trying to expand...

-Why are they rushing into a boy group when the girl group isn't even established?

-Shouldn't they develop the girl group first...ㅜㅜ

-They should promote Say My Name moreㅠㅠ

-Oh... They're working with someone who scouted Daehwi and Woojin.

-Even if they start recruiting now, it’ll probably be a while before they debut.

-The article doesn't even mention the T of TVXQ... Why is there so much hate?

-The original headline was just about a boy group. The journalist added the TVXQ reference for clicks. There are plenty of other headlines without TVXQ mentionedㅋㅋ People just want a reason to criticize.

-Isn’t it normal to recruit trainees at this point in time, regardless of whether the girl group has taken off yet...?

-They should be putting more effort into the girl group, SAY MY NAME. If they start talking about new projects now, wouldn't that mean the project is going to take resources away from them?

Continue reading Kim Jaejoong to create the 'Second TVXQ'... Announces new boy group launch

Hint for the setlist of Jaejoong and Junsu's joint concert

 

Director: I believe the setlist is the most important part of the production for this concert, you know?

Jaejoong: Since it's been such a long time since the two of us have shared a stage, I think we should include this Japanese song, XXX. 

Junsu: It's not in the setlist?!

Jaejoong: It's not, isn't it?

Junsu: That can't happen. XXX is a song that shouldn't be excluded from the setlist.

Jaejoong: There are some melodies that make you want to cry just by hearing it. So, I think XXX can be added to the setlist.

Jaejoong: There are so many famous Japanese ballads. I also feel like we need to add XXX too, you know? Because it's the most famous song.

Junsu: Honestly, I think we could even perform the full version of it. Both me and Jaejoong hyung have done medleys a lot. But personally, I want to sing that one. You know XXX? It's the perfect song to sing with Jaejoong hyung. 

Junsu: It's a really fun medium-tempo song, so if we add it to the set list, it'll reduce the risk and be less physically demanding. 

Junsu: So, we're adding XXX, too.

Jaejoong: Ah, that Japanese song?

Junsu: It would be very exciting if we mix representative upbeat medium-tempo songs from both Korea and Japan discography...

Junsu: But first of all, I really like the opening.

Junsu: For the opening, I think it'd be best to start with these two songs back-to-back, you know?

Junsu: What do you think? How about XXX?

Jaejoong: XXX ... We should try it

Junsu: Oh... This is better than I thought

Jaejoong: I'm ready for it

Junsu: When I first saw XXX in the setlist, I was like 'Huh?!' Whoa... BUt we might collapse after the opening at this point...?

Jaejoong: I think so tooㅋㅋㅋ

Jaejoong: ...Okay! I think after the first VCR, we could go into XXX and continue with XXX

Jaejoong: What are your thoughts for the encore break?

Director: I'm imagining about performing a song that brings back memories. Something that the audience can sing along while the stage is empty.

Junsu: We just let them do it

Director: Play the song they used to listen to

Junsu: I like that

Jaejoong: It must've been hard for you to find that song

Junsu: This should work, then. Okay.

Guessing from this, I think the opening songs might be Rising Sun or Mirotic. And the popular Japanese song they refer to might be Love in the Ice or Doushite. The humming could be Stand by U.

theqoo

-Hul, I was a huge fan of them back then. I want to go to their concertㅋㅋㅋ Do they still sell the tickets?

-As someone born in the 90s, I really want to go to their concertㅠㅠ My idolsㅠㅠ

-Hul... I want to go to their concert to. Seriously, though... I probably know all the songs.

-So many songs are coming to my mind. Their concert will be really fun.

-Whoa... Are there still seats left? I want to hear Begin live.

-I'm screwed. Why did they release this video today?ㅠㅠㅠ They should've kept it a secret until after the general sales are overㅠㅠ

-Are there seats left for general sales?

-I already bought tickets for all three days during the pre-sale. Just wait for me!

-Wow... All of these are my favorite songs.

-Oh... It looks like they're going to sing a lot of Japanese songs too.

-I’ve already booked tickets for all three days ^0^

-There are seats left for tomorrow’s 8 PM general sale~~ Pre-sale is long over and it was strict with authentication, only 1 ticket per person, so there are seats available.

-Hul... They're doing a joint concert?? I want to go... So, tomorrow's the general sale. I guess I'll give it a try...

-I’ll try for the general sale.

-I feel like I’ll be lost in nostalgia at the concertㅋㅋㅋㅋ It’ll be so fun.

Continue reading Hint for the setlist of Jaejoong and Junsu's joint concert

Kim Jaejoong's eight sisters discuss his future spouse

 

Currently having a drink in the living room with his Noonas

When all nine siblings gather, they drink and chat together.

Only snacks and squid. Somewhat lacking snack. 

(Need more snacks...)

"Go make some snacks!"

"You're the youngest, so you have to do it!"

Even though he's a singer who debuted 20 years ago, he's still the baby at home.

Noona #1: Anything is fine, as long as it's not sweet.

Noona #2: Sweet ones are fine!

Noona #2: Jaejoong likes sweet things too!

Noona #1: No! He doesn't like sweet things!

Noona #8: Make it spicy

Noona #1: Make it spicy, not sweet.

Noona #2: Make it spicy and sweet

Noona #6: Make it spicy with extra kimchi.

Noona #7: Make it not spicy.

Each of the five sisters has a different taste. He has to please everyone.

If it’s like this, I’ll never be able to get married!

When you were younger, whose opinion would you follow if everyone had different opinions?

Mom had the ultimate authority!

When she told them to run some errands, it's me who always end up going

Errands were always the responsibility of the youngest among the nine siblings!

Noonas! The youngest is on his way.

But earlier, Dad said, 'By the time you're 40, you have to get married.'

A regular topic in Jaejoong's family: Jaejoong’s marriage.

Talking with the sisters, without the parents involved.

What do the sisters think about Jaejoong’s marriage?

Noona #2: It's a bit... you know... if you get married past 40

Noona #2: No, not anymore. These days, it's fine.

Different views on marriage even among the sisters.

So, what do the sisters think Jaejoong's spouse should be like?

Noona #7: I hope you meet a calm woman. Someone who is good with elders and flexible.

Noona #8: She's talking about herself.

Noona #7: (Omo, am I that kind of woman?)

Noona #6: I like strong women.

A woman who can control Jaejoong?

Noona #6: She would have many sisters-in-law whose opinions will always be divided. As the only daughter-in-law in the family, she should be someone charismatic who can speak her mind confidently.

That's also good.

Noona #2: Someone who’s good to our parents and also good to you, Jaejoong. A family-oriented woman.

Noona #6: Everyone is talking about themselves.

Jaejoong, meet someone like me

A family-oriented woman, a strong woman, a calm woman

Noona #2: Since we have 8 sisters in our family, that woman has to have one good trait from each of the 8 sisters.

That's difficult.

I guess I won’t get married.

How nice would it be to meet someone like that?

But it seems impossible.

In conclusion, someone that Jaejoong likes.

This family looks so funㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

As they talk, it seems like everyone wants someone like themselvesㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

After this, they all talk about which Noona will clean, wash the dishes, and that their mother will cook. They all divide tasks and say that whoever Jaejoong marries doesn't have to do anything. It's really funnyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Your wife is going to have 8 sisters-in-law!

Ahhh! No! Don’t say that! If you mention that, it’ll ruin my chances of getting married!

But it's something that everyone in the country (?) already knows...

I feel like once this broadcast airs, (the daughter-in-law) will definitely not come.

'Do I have to spend time in the midst of 9 siblings? What if the only thing I'm gonna do in that family is to wash dishes?' No. We will not make you wash the dishes!

Noona #1 will do the dishes!

Noona #1: Wash the dishes

Noona #2: Cook

Noona #6: Clean

Noona #7: Watch the kids

Noona #8: Drinking buddy

Who will cook?

Mom!

It's okay, Mom. I'll do the cooking with you.

The future daughter-in-law just needs to show up!

theqoo

-They all seem to have a nice personality... If no one's going to marry him, then I will.

-It's better than a family that has 8 daughters-in-law. They all seem harmonious. His noonas all seem to have good personalities.

-I feel like he might already have a girlfriendㅋㅋ It’s just a matter of time, everything seems ready.

-I hope he marries someone who can blend well into that big family.

-His noonas seem to have good personalities... They also get along well... He's Kim Jaejoong, he'll manageㅎㅎㅎ

-He's Kim Jaejoong after allㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I'll volunteer^^

-Oh... I guess I have to get married to him.

-I feel like they'll treat Jaejoong's spouse really wellㅋㅋㅋ

-They all have the same nose... It's fascinating.

-Someone who loves to socialize and enjoy a bustling atmosphere would be really happy in a family like that.

-I'll give being that family's daughter-in-law a try🙋‍♀️

-Are you still accepting volunteers?ㅜ

Continue reading Kim Jaejoong's eight sisters discuss his future spouse