"Hug" () is the debut single by South Korean pop group TVXQ. Written by Yoon Jung and Park Chang-hyun and produced by Park Chang-hyun, "Hug" was first performed at a joint showcase featuring label mate BoA and American singer Britney Spears on December 26, 2003, TVXQ's official debut day. The song was later released as a CD maxi single on January 14, 2004, in South Korea. Its accompanying music video was filmed in December 2003 at the Ilsan Art House.Catch Me – Production Note (released December 27, 2013) The follow-up promotional song, "My Little Princess", was written by Hwang Sung-jae.

Under the name Tohoshinki, the group released an English version of "Hug" as a CD and DVD single in Japan on November 25, 2004. The Japanese language version of "Hug" was featured in the group's debut Japanese album Heart, Mind and Soul (2006). The Mandarin-language counterpart of "Hug" was released in May 2007.

Commercial performance "Hug" was a sleeper hit in South Korea. It debuted at number thirty seven on the MIAK chart,Prior to the establishment of the Gaon, South Korea's music charts were supplied by the Music Industry of Korea (MIAK), which only published monthly and yearly rankings. selling only 4,630 copies in the first month of release. Sales picked up the following month, and on March 28, 2004, TVXQ won their first music show award with "Hug" on The Music Trend. According to the MIAK, "Hug" peaked at number four on the months of April and May, selling a total of 56,543 copies in those months. "Hug" stayed charted for ten consecutive months, and by the end of the year, "Hug" sold over 169,000 copies. It was South Korea's fourteenth best-selling record of 2004. "Hug" sold 242,890 copies as of 2014. In Japan, "Hug" sold 4,710 copies.

Accolades In 2021, the song was included in Melon and Seoul Shinmun's critics ranking of Top 100 K-pop Songs of All Time at number 98.

+Awards and nominations Year Organization Category Result 2004Mnet KM Music Video Festival Best New Group Video Best Dance Video

+Music program awards Program Date Inkigayo March 28, 2004 April 4, 2004 April 11, 2004 Music Camp April 3, 2004 April 10, 2004 April 17, 2004

Formats and track listings Korean single "Hug" "My Little Princess" () "Oh Holy Night" (featuring BoA) "My Little Princess" (acappella version) "Hug" (instrumental) "Hug" (TV mix version)

Japanese single Disc 1 (CD) "Hug" (international version) "Hug" (international version – radio edit) "Hug" (international version – instrumental)

Disc 2 (DVD) "Hug" (international version; PV) "Hug" (original version; PV) "The Way U Are" (PV)

Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the single's liner notes.

Studio SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing Sonic Korea – mastering

Personnel SM Entertainment – executive producer Lee Soo-man – producer Kim Young-min – executive supervisor TVXQ – vocals, background vocals Yoon Jung – lyrics Park Chang-hyun – producer, lyrics, composition, arrangement, recording Yeom Chul-hee – arrangement Kim Hyung-soo – background vocals Hong Jun-ho – guitar Yeo Doo-hyeon – recording, mixing Lee Seong-ho – recording Jeon Hoon – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004, 2014) Peakposition Japan Singles (Oricon) 77 South Korean Albums (Gaon) 12

Monthly charts Chart (2004) Peakposition South Korean Albums (MIAK) 4

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position South Korean Albums (MIAK) 14

Riize version

As part of SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary celebrations, a cover version of "Hug" was released by boy band Riize. The song was released on January 8, 2025, as the first single from the company's 2025 SM Town: The Culture, the Future album, which contains cover songs by various SM artists.

The song begins with an a capella introduction and transitions into a 2000s-influenced instrumental.

The band promoted the release with a performance video which was released simultaneously with the song, as well as a performance on Mnet's M Countdown on January 16. The song was also performed at both nights of SM's 30th anniversary concerts at Gocheok Sky Dome on January 11 and 12.

Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Studio SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording SM Aube Studio – recording SM LVYIN Studio – digital editing, engineered for mix SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing 821 Sound – mastering

Personnel SM Entertainment – executive producer Park Jun-young – creative executive Lee Sung-soo – A&R executive Tak Young-jun – IP executive, executive supervisor Jang Cheol-hyuk – executive supervisor Riize – vocals, background vocals Yoon Jung – lyrics Park Chang-hyun – lyrics, composition Park Moon-chi – producer, arrangement, vocal directing, piano Eldon – background vocals Park Han-jin – bass Koo Young-jun – guitar Noh Min-ji – recording Kim Hyo-joon – recording Lee Ji-hong – digital editing, engineered for mix Nam Koong-jin – mixing Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "Hug" (Riize version) Chart (2025) Peakposition South Korea (Circle) 41

Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for "Hug" (Riize version) Chart (2025) Position South Korea (Circle) 68

Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Hug" (Riize version) Chart (2025) Position South Korea (Circle) 175

Footnotes

References

External links