Lee Jun-ho of K-pop act 2PM performs during the Taipei leg of his solo fan concert, "Midnight Sun," in February. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Singer and actor Lee Jun-ho, a member of K-pop group 2PM, will part ways with JYP Entertainment next month, ending a 17-year relationship with the agency.
JYP announced Thursday that Lee's exclusive contract will expire on April 15 and that both sides have agreed not to renew it after discussions.
"Based on deep mutual trust, we have renewed our contract multiple times and shared the brightest seasons of his career," the agency said in a statement, emphasizing its long-standing relationship with the singer-actor.
Lee debuted in 2008 as a member of 2PM, a performance-driven boy band under the K-pop label. The group rose to fame with a string of hits, including "Heartbeat" (2009), "Again & Again" (2009) and "Hands Up" (2011), standing out in the scene for its physically demanding performances.
In 2020, five years after its initial release, the group's 2015 track "My House" experienced a sudden resurgence in popularity, marking an unexpected second peak in the group's career. Lee's dance videos of the song on local music shows went especially viral, propelling him to a new career high.
Following this success, Lee pursued solo activities under JYP, most recently completing a successful concert tour. He performed eight shows across four cities, starting in January at Incheon's Inspire Arena before traveling to Tokyo, Taipei and São Paulo, meeting with fans worldwide.
He has also had an active acting career, most notably portraying Yi San, also known as King Jeongjo of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, in "The Red Sleeve" (2021) and the charismatic chaebol heir Gu Won in the 2023 drama "King the Land."
"We sincerely thank Lee for walking alongside JYP throughout our 17-year journey," the label said. "We are also grateful to the fans who have shown him unwavering love and support."
The company added that it will continue managing Lee's activities in Japan.
"We will remain in charge of his promotions in Japan and actively support any future collaborations as needed," it concluded.