History 3

2008–present: Rise of popularity in Japan and return to South Korea
 
TVXQ performing at SM Town Live in Bangkok

TVXQ released their sixteenth Japanese single, "Purple Line", on January 16, 2008. It debuted atop the Oricon, becoming the group's first number-one in Japan and making them first foreign male group to have a number-one single in Japan.[38] They then released their third Japanese album, T, which debuted at #4 on the Oricon Weekly album chart.[39] TVXQ's label Rhythm Zone, announced the "Trick" project where five singles would be released consecutively for six weeks, from February to March and each single would contain a solo track by a member.[40][41] The group released their twenty-third single, "Beautiful You / Sennen Koi Uta" in April. The single became another number-one for the group and made them the first non-Japanese Asians with two number-one singles since Ou-Yang Fei Fei set the record 24 years before.[42][43] They returned to Korea to participate in the 14th Annual Dream Concert at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul on June 7.[44] On June 12, TVXQ concluded their Asia Tour in Beijing which had begun on February 23, 2007 in Seoul.[34] TVXQ returned to Japan and released their twenty-fourth single, "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?" The single topped the chart, making TVXQ the first foreign artists to have three number-one singles on the Oricon.[45] They performed at Avex's 20th anniversary meeting and at A-Nation '08.[46][47] In August, TVXQ returned to Korea once again to take part in SMTown Live '08. They performed alongside label-mates BoA, Cheon Sang Ji Hee the Grace, Zhang Liyin, Girls' Generation, Shinee and Super Junior.[48]

The group's fourth Korean album, Mirotic, was slated to be released on September 24 but due to the large number of pre-orders was pushed back two days.[49] Like their previous Korean album, Mirotic debuted atop the charts with 307,974 copies sold.[50][51] In early January 2009, the album's sales totaled 502,837 copies, making it the first Korean album in six years to pass the 500,000 mark.[52][53] In October, TVXQ released "Jumon: Mirotic", the Japanese version of Mirotic's title track. The single topped the Oricon chart, breaking the record that the group had set with their previous single.[54][55] TVXQ attended Kōhaku Uta Gassen Music Festival on New Year's Eve, making them the first Korean group to attend.[56]

Their twenty-fifth single "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide", released in January 2009, became another number-one for the group.[57][58] In March, TVXQ released their twenty-sixth single "Survivor" which was followed by their fourth Japanese album, The Secret Code, which debuted at #2 on the charts.[59] "Survivor" debuted at #3 on the charts subsequently ending their number-one streak.[60] On April 22, 2009, they released their twenty-seventh single "Share the World/We Are!". The single debuted atop the charts, extending their Oricon record.[61] On July 1, 2009, TVXQ will release their twenty-eighth single, "Stand by U".