Junho first gained public attention when he won Superstar Survival in 2006. The show started with twelve teenage competitors and, as the weeks went on, they were eliminated one by one until three were left. The process followed a similar style to that of the reality show Survivor. Junho signed a contract with
JYP Entertainment after winning the contest, placing first out of 6,500 competitors. Future 2PM bandmates
Taecyeon and
Chansung also competed.[1]
Education
Junho participated in an undergraduate programme at
Howon University located in Gunsan, South Korea, with his bandmates
Chansung and
Wooyoung.[2][3] Furthermore, he, alongside Chansung, attained a master's degree in cinematography from
Sejong University.[4]
In the year 2008, he participated in
Mnet's show Hot Blood Men.[5] a program that chronicles the rigorous training of thirteen aspiring trainees, all vying for a coveted spot in the boy band One Day. This initiative ultimately led to the formation of two distinct boy bands, namely
2AM and
2PM.
Half a year following the televised airing of Hot Blood, the group
2PM made their debut with the release of their inaugural single titled "10점 만점에 10점" ("10 Points out of 10 Points")[6] from their first
EP named
Hottest Time of the Day. However, their second EP,
2:00PM Time For Change, propelled their triumph within the realm of Korean music, solidifying their meteoric rise.
Solo activities
In 2013, Junho made his initial foray as a solo vocalist in Japan with the release of his maiden solo mini-album, "Kimi no Koe," for which he undertook the roles of producer, composer, and lyricist across all the tracks.[7] This album achieved the remarkable feat of securing the topmost position on Tower Records' charts, while also attaining the honourable rank of third on Oricon's daily chart.[8] Commencing on July 9, Junho embarked upon his inaugural solo tour, aptly titled "Junho 1st Solo Tour Kimi no Koe," culminating on August 29 in Tokyo.[9]
On July 9 in the year 2014, Junho unveiled his second self-penned Japanese mini-album, FEEL.[10] Remarkably, FEEL promptly ascended to the summit of Oricon's daily album chart on the very day of its launch.[11] Spanning from July 3 to August 13, Junho embarked upon his second independent tour within Japan, aptly named Junho Solo Tour 2014 - Feel, a journey that encompassed five distinct Japanese cities.[12]
On July 15 in the year 2015, Junho introduced his third Japanese mini-album, titled SO GOOD. This album achieved the notable position of third on Oricon's weekly music chart, accomplishing the impressive feat of selling over 40,000 copies within its inaugural week.[13] Concurrently, he embarked upon his 2015 Japan tour named Last Night, which spanned across seven distinct cities, commencing on July 7.[14]
In September, he unveiled his inaugural album in Korea, a distinctive compilation titled One.[15] Within this album were Korean renditions of eleven previously-released self-composed Japanese tracks.[16] His solo concert "Last Night," hosted at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, spanned from September 19 to the 20th.[17]
In the year 2016, Junho presented his fourth Japanese mini-album, DSMN. The album not only achieved supremacy on Oricon Daily Chart but also secured the apex of daily sales standings at Tower Records.[18] Furthermore, the pre-released single "DSMN" garnered notable popularity on Japan's ringtone platform.[19] His fourth Japanese tour, titled Hyper, reached its culmination with a grand audience of 20,000 in Tokyo on August 25.
[20]
On the December 3 and 4, Junho orchestrated a special Encore Concert titled "LAST HYPER NIGHT" at Nippon Budokan. This event was accompanied by a live viewing experience throughout Japan.[21]
Progressing into 2017, Junho presented his fifth Japanese mini-album, 2017 S/S, in Japan.[22] This particular album marked a significant achievement for Junho, attaining the impressive rank of number two on Oricon's weekly music chart.[23] From July through August, he embarked on his fifth Japanese tour, fittingly named 2017 S/S.[24]
Simultaneously during that year, his maiden Korean mini-album titled Canvas emerged, serving as his official introduction to the Korean music industry as a solo performer.[25]
In January 2018, Junho released the single "Winter Sleep" in both Korean and Japanese.[26] Following this, from January 20 to February 24, Junho initiated his inaugural solo winter tour in Japan, aptly titled the Winter Special Tour "冬の少年," encompassing a total of nine stops across five cities.[27]
On July 11 in 2018, Junho unveiled his seventh Japanese mini-album, Imagination (Souzou). This release promptly achieved the remarkable distinction of claiming the No. 1 position on the daily album chart maintained by Japan's foremost music statistics-tracking entity, Oricon, boasting an estimated sale of 27,270 units.[28] His summer solo tour "Flashlight" commenced in late June and extended until early September, featuring thirteen performances across five cities in Japan.[29]
On December 5 in the same year, Junho introduced a Japanese compilation album titled 'Junho the Best,' featuring a collection of sixteen tracks.[30] Following this, from the December 6 to 8, Junho graced the Nippon Budokan stage with his Last Concert "JUNHO THE BEST."[31][32]
In January 2019, Junho unveiled his second Korean compilation album titled Two.[33] Lee will hold a solo concert series titled "Junho the Best in Seoul" in March.[34]
Further milestones occurred on the January 22 and 23 in the year 2022, as Lee hosted a fan meeting to celebrate his birthday, aptly titled "JUNHO THE MOMENT," held in Korea.[35]
Subsequently, Lee orchestrated a captivating fan meeting cum concert under the banner of Lee Jun-ho 2022 Fan-Con 'Before Midnight,' spanning from August 12 to the 14th in Korea, and continuing from August 20 to the 21st in Japan.[36]
After filming King The Land (drama), Lee immediately launched into an Arena Tour full concert in Japan, called "the Day We Meet Again" (Mata Aeru Hi). Two performances were held in each of 3 cities (Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya); 6 shows in all, starting on July 22 & 23 in Yokohama. The last show in Nagoya on August 27 was streamed live online and was also broadcast live in nine CGV theatres for Korean fans. These concerts marked his 10 year anniversary since debut as a solo artist.[37]
Composition
Junho's initial songwriting credit on a 2PM album materialized with "Give it to Me" in 2011, found within their second studio album,
Hands Up. His inaugural contribution to a Japanese release transpired with "Kimi ga Ireba" (君がいれば; If You Are Here), a part of 2PM's fourth Japanese single album, Beautiful unveiled on June 6, 2012. Notably, this composition was also integrated into their second Japanese studio album,
Legend of 2PM.
In the year 2012, Junho collaborated with actress
Kim So-eun on MBC's program Music and Lyrics for the creation of the song "Sad Love". Crafted by Kim So-Eun and composed by Junho, this single garnered significant acclaim, promptly securing positions within the top 10 ranks of diverse music charts. It was further selected as the theme song for MBC's weekend drama, Feast of the Gods.[38] Junho's collaborative effort extended to a partnership with
Vanness Wu on the song "Undefeated" featured on the soundtrack of the Taiwanese drama Ti Amo Chocolate soundtrack.[39]
The composition "Move On," a collaborative work between Junho and fellow member
Jang Wooyoung, emerged with 2PM's compilation album 2PM Best~ 2008-2011 in Korea, subsequently surging to the zenith of Japan's Recochoku Chart.[40] In 2013, Junho ventured into composing for Wooyoung's Korean debut EP, 23, Male, Single contributing to the track "Be With You".[41] "Love Is True," a melodious creation graced by the vocals of Junho and
Nichkhun, found its place in the supplementary CD of 2PM's Korean album
Go Crazy! introduced in 2014. Another notable musical accomplishment came in the form of "Versus," a collaborative effort by Junho and
Hwang Chan-sung, which he penned and recorded for the limited edition version D of 2PM's Japanese album, Galaxy of 2PM.[citation needed]
As of February 2019, Junho boasts a remarkable tally of a hundred compositions accredited by the
Korea Music Copyright Association, positioning him as the seventh artist among the top ten idols with the most copyrighted songs.[42][unreliable source?]
Acting career
Junho made his film debut in the action thriller Cold Eyes, where he impressed viewers for his acting.[43][44][45]
In 2016, Junho had a supporting role in tvN's thriller Memory.[50]
In 2017, Junho starred in the hit office comedy drama Good Manager.[51] He was praised for his villainous acting in the drama as the arrogant director of finances.[52] The same year, Junho landed his first lead role in JTBC's romantic melodrama series Rain or Shine.[53] He played a psychologically scarred survivor of a fatal incident.[54]
In 2018, Junho was cast in his first Japanese movie Rose and Tulip, written by popular manga artist Akiko Higashimura, in which he played a double role.[55] He was then cast in the SBS romance comedy drama Wok of Love, playing a star chef.[56] The same year, he was cast in the historical comedy film Gibang Bachelor.[57][58]
In 2019, Junho was cast in the legal drama Confession.[59]
In 2012, Junho was appointed as the honorary ambassador of the 24 Hour Famine Program hosted by
World Vision.[64]
In the same year, along with the
2PM members, Junho participated in
MBC's God of Victory, where they were pitted against the members of
Shinhwa. Junho won the segment "Breaking Chopsticks With His Butt", as he was able to break 28 chopstick pairs with his rear end in under 15 seconds.[65]
In 2013, Junho's solo variety show titled 2PM Junho's SAY YES -Friendship- was broadcast on
Tokyo MX. The show features Junho travelling across different places in Japan to make friends along with invited Japanese celebrities.[66]
On May 30, 2019, Junho began his military service as a public service worker. Due to a severe shoulder injury he suffered in 2010 during an acrobatics practice and for which he underwent major surgery in 2012, he was judged unfit for active duty.[67][unreliable source?] Junho was discharged on March 20, 2021.[68]
^Kang Da-yun (July 1, 2022).
"2PM 이준호, 8월 서울·도쿄 2022 팬콘 개최...낭만 가득 여름밤 [공식]" [2PM's Junho Lee to hold a fan-con in Seoul and Tokyo 2022 in August... Romantic Summer Night [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily.
Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Lee Junho - 2PM.
"Arena Tour 2023". 2pmJapan.
Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)
^"'꿈을 꾸는 배우' 이준호, 백상예술대상 2관왕" ['Dream Actor' Lee Jun-ho wins 2 awards at Baeksang Arts Awards] (in Korean). KBS Entertainment. May 10, 2022.
Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022 – via
Naver.
^
abFoundation Special Report AAA (December 13, 2022).
"이준호·임영웅·세븐틴→스키즈·아이브·뉴진스 AAA 대상..김선호 4관왕[2022 AAA][종합]" [Lee Jun-ho·Lim Young-woong·Seventeen → Skiz·Ive·New Jeans AAA Grand Prize..Kim Seon-ho wins 4 crowns[2022 AAA][Comprehensive]] (in Korean). MT Star News.
Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via
Naver.
^
abPark Jung-sun (April 20, 2022).
"이준호·임윤아, 드라마 '킹더랜드' 출연" [Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah to appear in the drama 'King the Land'] (in Korean).
JTBC.
Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim Kyung-hee (May 12, 2021).
"옷소매 붉은 끝동' 이준호-이세영 캐스팅 최종 확정!" [The red end of the sleeves' Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young's casting has been finalized!] (in Korean).
iMBC.
Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021 – via
Naver.
^"이준호, '연인' 내레이션 깜짝 등장...남궁민 지원사격" [Lee Jun-ho, 'Lovers' narration surprise appearance... Namgoong Min support fire] (in Korean). Donga. August 7, 2023.
Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
^Kang Nae-ri (July 1, 2022).
"[단독] '옷소매' 이준호, 넷플릭스 '셀러브리티' 특별 출연...김철규 감독과 의리" [[Exclusive] 'Clothes Sleeve' Junho Lee, special appearance on Netflix's 'Celebrity'... Director Kim Cheol-gyu and Loyalty] (in Korean).
YTN.
Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim Myung-mi (December 1, 2021).
"MBC 측 "이준호-임윤아-장성규 '가요대제전' MC 발탁"(공식입장)" [MBC side "Jun-ho Lee, Yoon-a Lim, Seong-gyu Jang selected as MCs for 'Gayo Daejejeon'" (official position)]. Newsen (in Korean).
Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Baek Seung-hoon (November 28, 2022).
"이준호·임윤아·장성규, '2022 MBC 가요대제전' MC 확정 [공식입장]" [Junho Lee·Yoona Lim·Seonggyu Jang confirmed as MCs for '2022 MBC Gayo Daejejeon' [Official Position]]. iMBC (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Park Soo-in (October 27, 2021).
"2PM 이준호, 2am '잘 가라니' MV 출연 지원사격..김소현과 호흡" [2PM's Junho Lee, 2am 'Goodbye' MV appearance support shooting... Breathing with Sohyun Kim] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Hwang, Hyo-yi (September 6, 2022).
"강태오-박은빈'·'손석구-김지원'·'이준호-이세영' 베스트커플상은?" [Best Couple Award for 'Kang Tae-oh - Park Eun-bin', 'Son Seok-gu-Kim Ji-won', 'Lee Jun-ho-Lee Se-young'?] (in Korean).
Sports Kyunghyang.
Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Park, Jae-hwan (January 1, 2024).
이준호, '2023 APAN STAR AWARDS' 대상 수상 [Lee Jun-ho wins the grand prize at the '2023 APAN STAR AWARDS'] (in Korean). KBS Entertainment News.
Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via
Naver.
^Yoon, Ki-baek (December 14, 2023).
"뉴진스·세븐틴·스키즈→임영웅·이준호, '2023 AAA' 대상 [종합]" [NewJeans-Seventeen-Stray Kids→Lim Youngwoong, Lee Junho, '2023 AAA' Prize [Full Article]]. Edaily (in Korean).
Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022).
"58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개...영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?] (in Korean).
Sports Kyunghyang.
Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (May 6, 2022).
"불철주야 전쟁 끝에" 이준호-김태리 틱톡 인기상 (백상예술대상)" ["At the end of the day and night war" Lee Jun-ho and Kim Tae-ri TikTok Popularity Award (Baeksang Arts Awards)] (in Korean). Sports Donga.
Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Noh, Yi-seul (May 2, 2022).
"2PM 이준호·유재석·태연·아이유·강다니엘 등, 2022 브랜드 고객충성도 1위" [2PM's Lee Jun-ho·Yoo Jae-suk·Taeyeon·IU·Kang Daniel etc. Ranked No. 1 in Customer Loyalty in 2022]. Sports W (in Korean).
Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
^"제22회 부일영화상 수상정보". Naver Movie (in Korean).
Naver.
Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
^Lee Woo-in (December 29, 2017).
"우도환부터 장기용까지, 대상보다 치열한 'KBS연기대상' 男신인상 대결" [From Woo Do-hwan to Jang Ki-yong, Competition for the 'KBS Drama Awards' Rookie of the Year is More Fierce than the Daesang]. tvreport (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
^Jang Se-in (April 6, 2022).
"제34회 한국PD대상, '키스 더 유니버스'·'꼬꼬무' 등 15편 수상" [The 34th Korea PD Awards, 15 films including 'Kiss the Universe' and 'Kokkomu' were awarded]. PD Journal (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
^"2022 코리아 드라마 페스티벌 (8일, 오후 5시~)" [2022 Korea Drama Festival (8th, 5pm~)] (in Korean). October 8, 2022.
Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via YouTube.
^Kim Hye-young (December 30, 2021).
"MBC 연기대상' 이준호♥이세영, '베스트 커플상' 수상... 실제 이상형은" [MBC Acting Awards' Lee Jun-ho ♥ Lee Se-young won the 'Best Couple Award'... What is your real ideal?] (in Korean).
iMBC.
Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Soo-hyung (January 1, 2019).
"베스트커플→대상" 감우성♥김선아, 노련美로 완성한 '무진커플'의 위력 [2018 SBS 연기대상]" [Best Couple → Daesang" Gam Woo-sung ♥ Kim Seon-ah, the power of 'Mujin Couple' completed with expert beauty [2018 SBS Drama Awards]] (in Korean). Osen.
Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022 – via
Naver.
^"이민정 국무총리 표창, 조인성은 대통령 표창 '저축의 날'". Financial News (in Korean). Financial News. October 30, 2012.
Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
^Okada, Naoto (December 22, 2022).
"韓国ドラマ界の星! 2022年の韓流ベストアクターTOP16を発表" [The star of the Korean drama world! 2022 Hallyu Best Actor Top 16 Announced]. ELLE Japan.
Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
^"2024 파워 셀러브리티 40 | 종합순위" [2024 Power Celebrity 40 | Overall Rank]. Central City Centre. April 23, 2024.
Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
^"한국갤럽조사연구소". www.gallup.co.kr.
Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.