Lee Jun-ho

Early life and education

Lee was inspired to pursue filmmaking after watching the film Shiri in elementary school. However, by the fourth grade, his interests had shifted toward acting. Although he initially enjoyed dancing and singing, he aspired to become an actor and subsequently enrolled in the drama program at Sewon High School. While in high school, Lee was active in the school's theater club and participated in various provincial and poetry competitions.

Lee attended Howon University in Gunsan, South Korea, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He later earned a master's degree in cinematography from Sejong University.

Career

Career beginnings

In 2006, Lee first gained public attention when he won Superstar Survival. The show began with twelve teenage competitors, who were eliminated one by one over the course of the competition until three finalists remained. Its format was similar to that of the reality show Survivor. Lee signed a contract with JYP Entertainment after winning the contest, placing first among 6,500 competitors.

In 2008, he participated in Mnet's Hot Blooded Men, a program that followed the rigorous training of thirteen aspiring trainees competing for a coveted place in the boy band One Day. The program ultimately led to the formation of two boy bands, 2AM and 2PM.

Half a year after the airing of Hot Blooded Men, 2PM made their debut with the single "10 Out of 10" from their first single album, Hottest Time of the Day. The group gained mainstream success in South Korea following the release of their second single album, 2:00PM Time For Change, in 2009.

Despite the group's success, Lee has spoken about his lack of opportunities and recognition early in his career. He recalled that he was often alone in the dormitory while the other members were busy with their scheduled activities. Lee also stated that, despite his interest in acting, he believed JYP Entertainment had no intention of allowing him to pursue it at the time.

Solo music career

In 2013, Lee made his debut as a solo artist in Japan with the release of his debut solo EP, Kimi no Koe, for which he served as producer, composer, and lyricist across all tracks. The EP topped Tower Records' daily chart and peaked at number three on Oricon's daily and weekly album charts. On July 9, Lee began his first solo tour, Kimi no Koe, which comprised 12 shows across five cities and concluded on August 29 in Tokyo.

On July 9, 2014, Lee released his second self-composed Japanese EP, Feel. The EP topped Oricon's daily album chart on the day of its release and reached number two on the weekly chart. On July 3, Lee began his second solo Japanese tour, Feel, which encompassed 12 shows across five cities and attracted 50,000 fans. The final show at the Nippon Budokan on August 13 was broadcast live in 38 theaters across 23 prefectures in Japan.

On July 15, 2015, Lee released his third Japanese EP, So Good, which peaked at number three on Oricon's weekly albums chart, with first-week sales exceeding 40,000 copies. The EP was described as demonstrating Lee's growth as an artist, with emotional tracks like "Good Life" and "Pressure" reflecting his personal thoughts and emotions. On July 7, Lee began his 2015 Japanese tour, Last Night, which comprised 15 shows across seven cities and attracted over 55,000 fans. The tour included two performances each at Yokohama Arena and World Memorial Hall. The final show at the World Memorial Hall on August 6 was broadcast live in 41 theaters across 32 cities in Japan.

In September, Lee released his debut studio album in South Korea, One, consisting of Korean versions of eleven previously released self-composed Japanese tracks. For the album's promotion, Lee made his first solo appearances on South Korean music shows, including M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo, performing the title track "Fire". He subsequently held two Last Night concerts at the Olympic Hall in Seoul on September 19 and 20.

In July 2016, Lee released his fourth Japanese EP, DSMN. The EP became Lee's first release to top both Oricon and Tower Records' daily albums charts, and peaked at number two on Oricon's weekly albums chart. The pre-release single "DSMN" also gained popularity on a Japanese ringtone platform. Lee held a special fan event, Whispering Summer with Junho ~Acoustic Talk Night~, on August 22. His fourth Japanese tour, Hyper, concluded with two performances at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium on August 24 and 25. Lee was responsible for the concert's overall production, including the setlist, opening video, costume concept, stage sound and lighting. On December 3 and 4, Lee held the special encore concerts Last Hyper Night at the Nippon Budokan, with 20,000 fans in attendance. The concerts were also broadcast live at theaters across Japan.

Acting career

In 2013, Lee made his acting debut in the action thriller Cold Eyes. He auditioned for the film after undergoing shoulder surgery and attended the audition wearing a cast. Despite his condition, the directors and producers were impressed by his enthusiasm, and after three to four auditions, he was cast as a detective. The character, originally nicknamed "Giraffe", was reworked as "Squirrel" to better suit Lee. Director Kim Byung-seo stated that Lee was approached solely as an actor and credited him with developing the "Squirrel" character. Lee also composed and performed "I'm in Love" for the film's soundtrack; its music video was released on July 10.

In 2015, Lee appeared in the martial arts period film Memories of the Sword. That same year, he starred alongside Kim Woo-bin and Kang Ha-neul in the coming-of-age film Twenty as an aspiring cartoonist who takes on several part-time jobs after his family goes bankrupt. Lee said that he drew on his own experiences as a trainee to portray the character, recalling that he had suffered from gastritis due to financial hardship and subsisted on convenience store meals during that period. He also stated that he worked closely with the director to accurately express the character's struggles and emotions. Lee collaborated with co-star Lee Yu-bi on "Cupid's Arrow" for the film's soundtrack.

In 2016, Lee made his television debut in tvN's legal thriller Memory. He portrayed an associate lawyer named Jung Jin, a perfectionist whose strong sense of justice often strains his social life.

In 2017, Lee starred in the hit office comedy drama Good Manager. He received praise for his villainous acting in the drama as the arrogant director of finance and won the Excellence Award for an actor in a mid-length drama at the KBS Drama Awards, marking his first acting accolade. The same year, Lee landed his first lead role in JTBC's romantic melodrama series Rain or Shine. He portrayed a psychologically scarred and physically traumatized survivor of a fatal incident, losing over 7 kilograms for the role. Lee also performed "What Words Are Needed" for the series' soundtrack.

In 2018, Lee was cast in his first Japanese film, Rose and Tulip, written by manga artist Akiko Higashimura, in which he played a dual role. He then starred in SBS's romantic comedy drama Wok of Love as a star chef. The same year, he was cast in the historical comedy film Homme Fatale.

Songwriting and composition

Lee has been involved in songwriting, composition and production for both his solo work and 2PM. He has also written and composed for other artists. As of October 2019, he had 101 compositions registered with the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), ranking seventh among idols with the most copyrighted songs.

Lee received his first songwriting credit on a 2PM album in 2011 with "Give It to Me" from the group's second studio album, Hands Up. In 2012, he composed "Kimi Ga Ireba" (君がいれば; If You Are Here), the B-side of 2PM's fourth Japanese single, Beautiful, marking his first composition credit on a Japanese release. The song was later included on the group's second Japanese studio album, Legend of 2PM, along with his compositions "This is Love" and "Forever".

In 2012, Lee worked with actress Kim So-eun on MBC's Music and Lyrics, where they created the song "Sad Love". The song charted domestically and was later used as a theme song for the MBC drama Feast of the Gods. He also wrote "Move On" with bandmate Wooyoung for 2PM Best: 2008–2011 in Korea; the song later reached number one on Japan's Recochoku chart. Lee composed "Be With You" for Wooyoung's EP, 23, Male, Single, and collaborated with Mandopop artist Vanness Wu on "Bubai" (不敗; Undefeated) for the soundtrack of the Taiwanese drama Ti Amo Chocolate.

In 2013, Lee made his Japanese solo debut with Kimi no Koe, for which he produced, wrote and composed all tracks. He also contributed "Zero Point", "Love Song" and "Go Back" to 2PM's studio album Grown, and composed and performed "Just a Feeling" and "I'm in Love" for its Grand Edition. Lee later collaborated with Chinese singer and actress Qi Wei on "You're The Right One" (你是对的人) for the soundtrack of the Chinese drama Love Is Back. The music video, featuring both Lee and Qi, reached number one on YinYueTai, China's most visited music video website at the time.

In 2014, Lee contributed "I Want You" to 2PM's third Japanese studio album Genesis of 2PM and collaborated with bandmate Nichkhun on "Love Is True" for the Grand Edition of Go Crazy!. The following year, he contributed "365", "Everybody" and "Burning Love" to the group's Japanese releases, as well as "Nobody Else" to their fifth Korean studio album, No.5. "Nobody Else" was described by Billboard as a "sensual cut with surging synths and slick harmonies". He also produced "Chikai No Christmas" (誓いのクリスマス) and composed and recorded the solo track "So Many Girls" for editions of the group's Japanese single Higher.

Other activities

Endorsements and ambassadorships

In 2012, Lee was appointed honorary ambassador of the 24 Hour Famine Program hosted by World Vision.

In May 2014, Lee was selected as a model for South Korean eyewear brand Look Optical.

In August 2021, Lee and bandmate Chansung were appointed as models for Dongwon Tuna. They featured in a commercial styled as the debut music video of a rookie project group named Team Chichi; the song was titled "Oh. My. God. Tuna!" (오. 마이. 갓. 참치!). In October, Lee was selected as the face of French luxury retailer L'Occitane's 2021 Holiday Magic Collection. He was also chosen as the model for South Korean wellness and nutrition brand Paperbag. In November, Lee was appointed as a model for South Korean athleisure brand Xexymix.

In February 2022, Lee was selected as a model for Subway's "Better Choice" advertising campaign. He was also chosen as a model for Domino's Korea alongside Hyeri. In March, he was appointed as the brand ambassador for South Korean ramyeon brand Paldo Bibimmen and Belgian chocolate maker Godiva, the latter in celebration of its 10th anniversary in Korea. In April, he was chosen by Daesang Life Science as a model for its protein brand My Meal. In May, he was selected as the ambassador for South Korean home and kitchen appliance maker Cuckoo Electronics, a role he continued to hold. In July, Lee was chosen as a model by L'Occitane for its 2022 Verbena Summer Paradise campaign. In August, Lee was selected as a model for Lotte Duty Free to promote international tourism. As part of the promotion, he starred in a short drama titled LDF Original Series, released on social media in November 2022.

In January 2023, he was appointed as an ambassador for French luxury goods company Dior in South Korea. In December, he was selected as a model by South Korean organic pet food manufacturer OSP for its brand Indigo Paw.

In February 2024, Lee was selected as a model for South Korean outdoor apparel company NEPA, joining An Yu-jin as the brand's representative. In April, Lee was appointed as the first Korean global ambassador for Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller Piaget. He was also selected as the global ambassador for South Korean cosmetics brand The SAEM.

Philanthropy

Since 2011, Lee has been associated with World Vision through sponsorship of children in Ethiopia and Ghana. In 2012, he was appointed as an ambassador and visited Ethiopia, where he met elephantiasis patients and children he sponsored, including a child named Felmeta, whom he referred to as dongsaeng ("younger brother"). In November 2018, Lee took part in World Vision's "Global 6K for Water" donation run, where he was reunited with Felmeta.

In March 2020, Lee donated 30 million won to support socially vulnerable children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2024, Lee joined the Honor Society of the Social Welfare Joint Fundraising Association, whose members have donated more than 100 million won, through Shinhan Financial Group's campaign. In December, Lee donated 100 million won to the Samsung Medical Center to support the treatment of vulnerable children and adolescents. In March 2025, Lee donated 100 million won to help children and residents affected by the wildfires in South Gyeongsang Province and North Gyeongsang Province.

Lee's fans have also made donations to World Vision to mark various occasions, leading to what has been described as "a virtuous cycle of artist and fandom". Following Lee's 2012 visit to Ethiopia, where he was moved by the lack of clean water available to Felmeta and other residents, fans from Korea, Japan and Thailand donated over 26 million won in three weeks in March 2015 to help install drinking water pumps. In 2022, Lee's fan club "DC Inside Lee Junho Gallery" donated 5 million won in commemoration of his birthday. In 2025, the community donated 12.5 million won to support children in crisis, marking its sixth contribution since 2022.

Personal life

Military service

On May 30, 2019, Lee began his military service as a public service worker. Due to a severe shoulder injury sustained during acrobatics practice in 2010, which required major surgery in 2012, he was deemed unfit for active duty. Lee was discharged on March 20, 2021.

Health

Lee has sustained several serious injuries during his career. In a 2014 interview, Lee revealed he had torn the labrum in his shoulder while preparing acrobatics for 2PM's comeback with "I'll Be Back" in 2010. He was unable to undergo surgery at the time and filmed the music video for the track a week after the injury while taking up to eight painkillers at a time. In a 2025 interview, Lee stated that eight holes were drilled in his shoulder during the subsequent surgery to repair the tear. Despite continued rehabilitation, Lee did not make a full recovery and was told that he may only be able to regain about 80% functionality in his arm. He was prescribed painkillers when involved in activities that strain his shoulder.

In November 2012, Lee suffered a back injury during a rehearsal for 2PM's What Time Is It? concert tour in Shanghai. He was diagnosed with a spinal fracture, with further examination revealing herniated discs in the third and fifth vertebrae and a fracture in the fourth vertebra. In a 2025 interview, Lee recalled that the spinal injury occurred after he felt a crack during a stage rehearsal. The nerve damage worsened to the point that the pain radiated to his head and he eventually collapsed. He was taken to the hospital, where an X-ray showed that the fourth vertebra was fractured. Although he was required to wear a back brace and had significant swelling, Lee proceeded with the performance and participated in the entire tour. He explained that he viewed performing despite the injury as a promise to his fans who had come to see the performance, while acknowledging that attitudes toward performing with injuries at the time differed from those of today.

In December 2013, Lee injured his index finger while filming an action scene on the set of Memories of the Sword.

In March 2022, JYP Entertainment announced that Lee had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

In February 2025, it was reported that Lee had sustained a grade 2 sprain to his left ankle during dance practice the day before his scheduled Midnight Sun fan-concert at Inspire Arena and was receiving treatment. He subsequently used crutches at the airport while departing for Japan. Despite the injury, Lee performed both scheduled shows of the Japanese leg of his Midnight Sun fan-concert tour, incorporating a cane into his performances.

Public image

From 2013 to 2018, Lee released an extended play and embarked on a concert tour in Japan every summer, earning him the nickname "Lee Natsu" ("Lee Summer") in the country.

In 2020, the title track of 2PM's 2015 album No.5, "My House", climbed back to the top of multiple streaming charts as fancams of Lee's performance of the song became a belated sensation and went viral on YouTube. Despite being in the military at the time, his popularity skyrocketed, and he earned the moniker "Urijib Junho" ("My House Junho").

Lee is widely regarded among the best idol-turned-actors, with him being ranked first among all male idol-actors by a 2023 poll of entertainment insiders. He is the only idol-actor to win Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Korea PD Awards, as well as the Grand Prize (Daesang) for Actor of the Year at the Asia Artist Awards and the APAN Star Awards. Lee has been cited as a role model by many younger idols and actors including Jay B, Jinyoung, Dahyun, Kang Daniel and Kim Jae-won.

Discography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Lee's accolades include a Japan Gold Disc Award for his solo EP So Good (2016), alongside numerous acting awards and state honours. Among his notable acting awards are the Excellence Award for Actor in a Mid-length Drama at the KBS Drama Awards for Good Manager (2017) and Best Actor – Television at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards for The Red Sleeve (2022). He has also won three Grand Prizes (Daesang) at the Asia Artist Awards (2022, 2023 and 2025) and one at the APAN Star Awards (2023). His state honours include the Prime Minister's Commendation (2024) and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award (2026).