TVXQ to release comeback album on January 5

Teaser image for TVXQ's upcoming release set for January 5, 2010 [SM Entertainment]

Boy band TVXQ, originally a five-member group which will make a comeback to the music scene next year as a duo formed of members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin, will release their new album on January 5 of next year, according to their agency on Monday.

SM Entertainment announced through a press release that the upcoming record, produced without members Jaejung, Yuchun and Junsu who have halted their activities as a five-member boy band since last July when three of its members filed a lawsuit against SM, will also go on sale in Japan on January 26 in the form of a single album.

SM also unveiled a teaser image of U-Know and Max who are seen styling new looks emphasized by heavy eye make-up.

The upcoming album will be the first released in Korea under TVXQ's name in Korea in over two years -- the last was "MIROTIC" in September 2008 after which they promoted themselves in Japan.

However, their activities as one of Asia's most popular K-pop acts came to an abrupt halt when Jaejung, Yuchun and Junsu brought suit against SM, demanding that their 13-year exclusive contract with the agency be nullified and the court had ruled in partial favor of the three, stating that SM cannot interfere with their individual activities but also that they can only act as members of TVXQ through SM.

SM asked the boys to return to the group but the trio did not respond to the agency and SM then took legal action against them. The two parties have been in conflict ever since.

Furthermore, Jaejoong, Yuchun and Junsu formed a Korean boy band named JYJ through which they have released a worldwide album titled "The Beginning" last month.

Jessica Kim jesskim@