Lee Jun‑ho (이준호) is a South Korean singer, actor and dancer, member of the male group 2PM and lead actor in major K‑dramas such as The Red Sleeve Cuff and King the Land.
Biography of Lee Jun‑ho (이준호)
Full name (romanized): Lee Jun‑ho, also known as Junho; in Korean: 이준호.
Date of birth: 25 January 1990 in Seoul, South Korea.
Professions: singer, actor, dancer, composer and model.
Beginnings and 2PM
In 2006 he won the talent show Superstar Survival, beating around 6,500 participants and catching the attention of JYP Entertainment.
After the show he signed a trainee contract with JYP, where he met other future members of 2PM such as Taecyeon and Chansung.
He officially debuted in 2008 as a member of 2PM, a group known for powerful stage energy, athletic choreography and a strong dance presence.
Within 2PM he stood out as vocalist, dancer and composer, participating in songs from the group’s Korean and Japanese albums.
Solo music career and collaborations
He has developed a solo career, especially in Japan, with albums such as SO GOOD, which received recognition at the Japan Golden Disk Awards.
He collaborated with Vanness Wu on the song “Undefeated”, the soundtrack to the Taiwanese drama Ti Amo Chocolate.
He wrote and took part in OST tracks such as “Sad Love”, “My Way to You”, “I’m In Love”, “Cupid’s Arrow” and “The Signs of Love”.
Transition to acting
He started with small parts and cameos in series such as Memory (2016) and Uncontrollably Fond (2016).
He gained major recognition for his role as antagonist Seo Yool in Good Manager / Chief Kim (2017), winning awards at the KBS Drama Awards and the Asia Artist Awards.
He starred in Rain or Shine / Just Between Lovers (2017–2018), Wok of Love (2018) and the thriller Confession (2019), which reinforced his image as a versatile actor.
Breakthrough with historical and romantic dramas
In film he played the lead role in Homme Fatale (2019), portraying Heo‑saek, presented as the first male courtier of the Joseon dynasty.
He reached international stardom with The Red Sleeve Cuff (2021–2022), where he played Crown Prince Yi San (later King Jeongjo), a role that brought him huge popularity and multiple acting awards.
In 2023 he starred in King the Land (JTBC), playing Goo Won, heir to a hotel conglomerate, a series that became a global hit.
Military service and recent projects
He began his mandatory military service on 30 May 2019, serving as a public‑service worker due to a shoulder injury, and completed it on 20 March 2021.
After service he has continued combining music, dramas and international appearances, including a guest spot on the Brazilian program “The Night with Danilo Gentili” in 2025.
In 2025–2026 he has spoken about his upcoming projects, his desire to play a darker villain, and his intention to expand his acting range beyond classic romantic roles.
Declarations in communication media and interviews (with websites in http:// format)
Statement: «No matter the activity, I feel fulfilled both as a singer and as an actor. I have double the reasons to receive that affection and I’m grateful to see it cross borders».
Statement: «I want to be Lee Junho, the person people immediately look for when they hear news that I’m singing or appearing in any project. I want to become a trusted actor and a trusted singer».
Statement: «I try to stay calm. I’m grateful for the enthusiastic response and happy to receive support».
Statement: «There were people who knew me as a singer and already liked my work, but today times have changed and technology has advanced. It became possible to reduce the distance between us through the internet, which makes me honored and happy».
Statement on The Red Sleeve: «I had been waiting a long time to make my comeback as a singer and as an actor (while I was doing military service)… Then I came across the script for The Red Sleeve. It was interesting because I finished the script in one sitting and because it’s a fictional story based on a real historical figure».
Statement on The Red Sleeve: «I did feel pressure, but not in a negative way. I felt that if I did this job well, it would be a truly fun project. I was happy to take on the role».
Statement on his acting method: «When the character is the Crown Prince, I tried to show his passionate and sharp gaze, with a certain harshness. But when he sits on the throne, I tried to lose that gaze to portray him as a charismatic king… I paid attention to the details».
Statement on The Red Sleeve: «I still haven’t left the character, even though a fair amount of time has passed since we finished filming. There was an energy on set… it was a very happy period and I still haven’t left that moment».
Statement on his career: «It’s really great. Honestly, I don’t even know how grateful I am to have projects I can actually film. I enjoy them a lot. As an actor, every time I take on a new challenge, I create a new character, and that joy drives me… I hope this continues all my life».
Statement on his next stage: «The actor and singer Lee Junho, member of the group 2PM, is going through one of the strongest moments of his career… He confirmed that his next role will be a villain, wishing to play a more complex and darker character, very different from the romantic roles that brought him fame».
Statement on choosing roles: «For Lee Junho, the narrative of a project is the most important factor when taking on a new role. As a storyteller driving the plot, he feels each project should have a clear message and a coherent storyline that allows him to connect with the audience».
Statement in an interview about teamwork: «The cast of King the Land worked together day and night until the drama reached the top of the global trends… I felt we deserved the fans’ congratulations more than on any other day because they had supported us until the end».
Statement on international success: «I am surprised by how Korean content has crossed borders and reached so many countries… I feel a great responsibility to keep making high‑quality work».
Web: http://billboard.com.br/astro-k-dramas-junho-lee-virada-atuacao-negocios
Statement on his artistic evolution: «I’ve tried to show that I can be more than just the romantic boy in dramas; now I’m interested in exploring villains, psychological characters and darker roles to demonstrate my full range as an actor».