After a lengthy legal battle, Shinhwa gained their own name. 

For the first time since debuting in 1998 at SM Entertainment, Shinhwa gained the legal rights to their own name. On May 27, Shinhwa came to an agreement with the previous holder of the copyright to Shinhwa's name. 

Shinhwa is the longest running group in K-pop history, and has managed themselves since 2011 despite not retaining the legal rights to their name. 

Shinhwa's group activities were originally run by Shinhwa Company, but the company was forced to change its name to ShinCom Entertainment following the legal battle. The name "Shinhwa" was legally held previously by SM Entertianment, Open World Entertainment, and Joon Media before Shinhwa Company gained the rights. 

On May 29, ShinCom Entertainment updated Shinhwa's fans with a length statement.

"'Shinhwa' now is a name that only belongs to us," the statement on Shinhwa Company's Facebook began.

"As you may have seen reported in today's news, ShinCom Entertainment and Joon Media came to an amicable agreement on the 27th, and we have received the trademark rights to 'Shinhwa' and are in the process of having the name legally transferred.

Upon hearing this news today, fans will likely be the happiest of us all. 

We're sure that today you [fans] have thought of how meaningful this result is to all of us after thinking about the past where we've had to gone through so much due to the trademark problem.  Although we have clearly been Shinhwa for the past 17 years, we couldn't be free because of the legal battle over the name 'Shinhwa.' Whenever unfortunate and frustrating things happened because of this issue, we know that not only the Shinhwa members were affected but we know that fans must have been hurt and wounded as well.

At the end of a long and tiring fight, we now completely have the name 'Shinhwa.' Shinhwa and ShinCom Entertainment will work their best so that the value of the name will shine even brighter, and so that we can be stronger.

We thank the fans who have given us lots of support all this while, and we will make sure to return your love with better activities and promotions to go along with the name 'Shinhwa'.

In the future, we ask for much encouragment from the fans and once again sincerely thank you who have stood by 'Shinhwa' for the past 17 years. Thank you."

ShinCom's statement resulted in pandemoniom from fans of the group.

"No one can destroy this name," wrote Sugar Bellee on Facebook. "No one can steal this name from you. The legend [the English meaning of 'Shinhwa'] continues." 

A day before the news, Shinhwa was revealed to be included in the KCON LA lineup this summer in the United States. 

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