DBSK is another name for the South Korean boy band officially known as TVXQ or Tohoshinki. The group was formed in 2003 and quickly became one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia. Their name is often shortened to TVXQ or simply referred to as "the boys". Other synonyms for DBSK include Dong Bang Shin Ki, their original name, which means "rising gods of the east" in Korean. In Japan, they are also known as Tohoshinki, which translates to "rising gods of the east" in Japanese. In Chinese-speaking countries, they are referred to as Tong Vfang Xien Qi, which interprets to "the same mould, the same support, the same fame, the same virtue".