Jakarta, Get Your K-Pop Groove on — Xiah Jansu Is Coming to Town

The Korean wave continues to wash over Indonesia. Next in line for a concert is the multi-talented Xiah Junsu, who is scheduled to play at JITEC Mangga Dua Square in North Jakarta on June 16.

The 25-year-old singer, actor and dancer joined a talent show when he was still in school, and he was signed to talent agency SM Entertainment when he was only 11 years old.

After a short stint as a member of an R&B group, Junsu was placed in a new pop group called TVXQ, an abbreviation for what literally translates as “The Rising Gods of the East.” Together with U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun, Junsu and TVXQ became one of Asia’s most successful groups.

During his time with TVXQ, which had a large following, especially in South Korea and Japan, Junsu wrote and composed several of the band’s hits.

But in 2009, Junsu, along with Jaejoong and Yoochun, decided that they’d had enough: The three of them wanted to leave SM Entertainment, even though they had signed a 13-year contract, stating that profits were not distributed fairly among band members.

In the end, a court ruled in the musicians’ favor — the remaining two continue as a duo — and Junsu was free to plan his next step.

Instead of immediately jumping into another boy band project, Junsu decided the stage was his next calling. He landed the lead acting role in the South Korean version of the musical “Mozart!”

In an interview with the Korean daily Chosun Ilbo earlier this year, Junsu recalled how he felt prior to signing onto the musical. “When I received the offer to do the musical, I couldn’t sleep for a week,” he said. “Because this was my first step to independence after the troubles I had with SM Entertainment.”

However, his worries were unfounded, as his fans remained loyal: Every show in which Junsu performed was sold out. And after some initial stage fright, Junsu fully enjoyed himself.

“When I first stood on the stage, I felt so crazily embarrassed. But afterward, the joy that it brought me was totally different from a concert. During those two hours on stage, I am not Xiah Junsu, the idol, but someone very different.”

Since his stage debut, Junsu has kept busy with an assortment of projects. He became part of a new boy band called JYJ, has starred in more musicals and put out his first solo album, which was released in May under the title “Tarantallegra.”

Despite his success, Junsu said he didn’t know whether he’d do it all over again if he could go back in time.

“I would not want be an artist again in my next life,” he said. “I have no regrets in my life. I am very happy to receive this much love and attention. But I haven’t been relaxed since I was 15.”

Xiah Junsu
Saturday, June 16
JITEC, Mangga Dua Square
Jl. Gunung Sahari, North Jakarta
www.rajakarcis.com