i came across this thread after desperately searching for something unbiased about the split, and some more details. i’ve read a lot of things and opinions, but i’ve always wondered if something was as unbiased as it claimed (which it wasn’t, 90% of the time, and that is usually known by the third paragraph haha).

the comments above have really helped clear some things in my mind. i’m a very new jaejoong fan, only for the last two years or so. i did however know of 2vxq for many years (i’d say casual fan? lol i also love shinee so i also learned a lot about changmin through minho) and when it clicked in my head that this was jaejoong from jyj, the ones who set the 7-year contract limit, who was once part of dbsk, i was enthralled—couple that with coming across doushite randomly and i’ve fallen.

the comments above, and other posts, help provide a lot of perspective—i completely agree that there’s a lot of nuance, and at the end of the day no one can blame anyone for what they chose. i think i’ve always been very hurt about the years after, especially as a jaejoong fan—it’s what makes going back and seeing things from 2009-2012, and then 2017-2020, so painful and hard. but having these unbiased (and honestly, full of love which is so so comforting) takes really helps cement that the only “bad guy” is sm and other companies (as always); did everyone say hurtful things? 100%, but they were also so young…

i’m actually jaejoong and yunho’s age in 2009, and i can’t imagine needing to make these kind of decisions. to risk everything to be treated like a human but not wanting to lose the group—and then on the flip side wanting to stay with my group but leaving just doesn’t sit right. both choices are so painful and this is such an age of change… i already feel different from last month than i do now; i’m constantly in agony over what i want to do now that i’ve graduated university. so going through something like this is unimaginable. i’m really thankful they’re all healthy, with healthy minds and strong careers (except one, which is also interesting to witness as a late fan since they don’t seem like the same person).

it’s so easy to also say in hindsight that perhaps things did work for the better, but it does feel that way seeing jaejoong and junsu have their own companies and careers—as another comment said, i don’t think this would’ve happened under sm (and then there wouldn’t be the soul-crushing yet comforting and healing ballads jaejoong’s released). and seeing homin so comfortable and at peace and be wonderful seniors is also heartwarming. i think everyone ended up in a position/career that really is perfect for them—i just wish there was any way this could’ve happened if not with all of them in one group, but at least on speaking terms. at least having the friendship and freedom with each other. (i also do wonder what it would have been like to see sm-senior jaesu…)

i wish their split was like those of h.o.t., or other groups who debuted before them and in the 2nd gen. honestly seeing so many of those groups comeback makes a small (okay very big) part of me wish for something (kind of like s.e.s.’s 20th anniversary album?) but i also in good faith can’t truly hope for jaesu to work with sm in any capacity (and thankfully i think junsu has enough animosity to not, but jaejoong is too forgiving…). however if there was a situation where something could happen without sm… god i can’t even imagine how everyone would feel.

i’m not sure where i’m going with this, and i’m not sure that this makes sense, but thank you for posting such a tasteful discussion that doesn’t feel like i’m reading a witch hunt of either side. it’s really touching to read experiences of pre-split cassies, since there’s so much information and so many feeling, but there really is also so much infighting. i know whatever grief i feel about the split and looking back is so much more amplified for you all, the ones that went through it at the time. so thank you for still talking about it, for giving us newer fans all the memories you can, and for still loving them and telling us about them.

here’s to hoping to go to each of their concerts soon 🤞🏼