Max Changmin


  • I. Introduction

    Shim Chang-min (심창민), known professionally as Max Changmin (최강창민 ), Changmin or Max, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actor. He is the main vocalist in the boy group TVXQ!.


    II. Career

    III. Debut in TVXQ

    Changmin was scouted when he was 14 years old by SM Entertainment. He made his debut as a main vocalist and maknae in TVXQ! on December 26, 2003, when he was 15 years old. TVXQ was originally a five-member group, including U-Know Yunho, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu. The group released its first single "Hug" and debut album in 2004, which became of the best selling albums of the year. The group also released its first Japanese album the following year under the name Tohoshinki.


    "Hug"

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    TVXQ grew in popularity throughout Asia over its next several albums before releasing its seminal "Mirotic." Changmin is in the brown long sleeved jacket, hitting the famous high note on 2:13.


    "Mirotic"

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    Changmin began to write songs for both TVXQ and other artists.


    IIII. 2010-2015: TVXQ Becomes a Duo

    Following a series of lawsuits in 2008-10, four members departed the group and TXVQ became a duo with Changmin and U-Know. Where Changmin was one of three main vocalists in the six-member group, his high notes, screams and powerful vocals became the focus as the main vocalist of the new duo.


    The duo continued to perform with chart-topping albums in Korea and Japan for the next five years before their mandatory military service. TVXQ set sales records and concert attendance records in Japan, becoming the best-selling and highest-grossing foreign artists.


    Additionally, Changmin appeared in a number of acting roles in Korean and Japanese movies, TV and variety shows, as well as releasing solo songs. His performance in the Japanese film Fly With the Gold earned him a Newcomer of the Year award at the Japanese Academy Awards and Best New Artist at the Japan Film Critic awards. In 2013, he won Best Entertainer (Variety) for his work on Cool Kiz on the Block.


    He also continued to write songs for TXVQ, as well as other artists like SHINee, Taemin and Kyuhyun.


    In 2014, he joined the SM project group, S.M. The Ballad and participated on the group's second album, Breath.


    IIIII. 2015-2020: Military and Solo Work

    A day before enlisting, Changmin released his first Japanese solo debut mini album, Close to You, on November 18, 2015. It was sold only through the Japanese fan club online shop. After completing his military service in August 2017, he rejoined with U-Know to continue releasing chart-topping TVXQ albums.


    An example of his well-known rock and roll-style screams at :58 and 4:00-4:08 This is 15 years into his career with TVXQ.

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    Changmin continued to act and appear in variety shows, in addition to performing in TVXQ. He released his Korean solo EP, Chocolate, on April 6, 2020, which reached #2 in Korea and #3 in Japan.



    IIIV. 2021: Kingdom and Japanese releases

    Changmin continued television work, including hosting the TV show Kingdom: Legendary War.


    He released a second Japanese EP, Human, on Dec. 8, 2021 through TVXQ's fan club, which reached #2 on the Japanese Oricon charts. Changmin appeared with TVXQ on a new song for the 2021 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Express Album. He also released a Japanese version of "Chocolate" as a single and his first English single "Gold Dust" in late December.



    IIV. 2022: Second Solo EP

    Changmin appeared with TVXQ as part of the SMTOWN 2022 New Year's Day show and also debuted songs from his upcoming solo EP. He released his second solo EP, Devil, on January 13, 2022.




    III. Discography



    IV. Videography

    V. Photos

    VI. Trivia

    - Changmin is also fluent in Japanese.

    - Changmin had no interest in being a singer but went to the SM casting auditions because his mom persuaded him because she wanted to meet BoA.

    - He has an extremely high IQ and has bachelor's degrees from Konkuk and Kyunghee University in post-modern music and film and arts, as well as a master's degree and doctorate from Inha University.

    - He loves photography and became a student of photographer Kim Young-moon.

    - He loves to cook and posts about his cooking classes and creations on his IG account.

    - He has a Bichon Frise named "Buzzi."

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