2PM

2PM
Left to right: Chansung, Wooyoung, Nichkhhun, Junho, Jaebeom, Junsu, Taecyeon
Background information
Origin	Seoul, Republic of Korea
Genres	K-pop, dance, hip-hop
Years active	2008–present
Labels	JYP Entertainment (South Korea) Sony Music (Thailand)
Associated acts	One Day 2AM
Website	2pm.jype.com/
Members
Junsu Taecyeon Wooyoung Junho Chansung Nichkhun
Past members
Jaebeom

2PM is a South Korean boy band, originally a seven-member group, but currently consisting of six members^[1] due to the sudden contract termination of leader Jaebeom following an Internet controversy in September 2009. They are managed by JYP Entertainment. The current members are Junsu, Junho, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Chansung.

2PM is one of the two subgroups branched out from the eleven-member (before Jaebeom's departure) boy band One Day, the other being 2AM. They debuted with the song "10 Jeom Manjeome 10 Jeom" (10점 만점에 10점, lit. 10 Points Out of 10 Points), which showcased their acrobatic dance styles.^[2] They achieved their first No. 1 song with "Again & Again".

History

Pre-Debut

The members of 2PM all auditioned (except Nichkhun, who was scouted^[3]) to become part of JYP Entertainment, to which the Wonder Girls & 2AM also belong. Some members held their auditions in other countries; for example, Park Jaebeom auditioned in the United States. Other members already had experience in the entertainment industry prior to their acceptance into JYP Entertainment, such as Kim Junsu, who had won various singing competitions, and Ok Taecyeon, Lee Junho and Hwang Chansung, who had participated in the show 'SuperStar Survival'.

2PM's and 2AM's training days were filmed in a documentary called Hot Blood Men, which aired on Mnet. The show documented the time by time training program of the JYP trainees who were to be part of the group "One Day", as well as the elimination of three trainees from the group during the time.

2008: Debut and early success

2PM debuted with their single "10 Jeom Manjeome 10 Jeom" (10점 만점에 10점, lit. 10 Points Out Of 10 Points) on September 4, 2008. On October 17, 2008, they began promotion of "Only You", another song from their debut mini album "Hottest Time of the Day."

On April 16, 2009, the group released their second mini album 2:00PM Time For Change, which they began promoting on April 23. On May 9, 2009, they won their first Mutizen Song award on M!Countdown since their debut; in the same week, they won their second Mutizen on SBS Inkigayo. The group earned their third Mutizen the following week, completing the triple crown and making them ineligible to win for the following weeks. However, the award that had been eluding them - Music Bank - was quickly won soon after. On June 11, 2PM began promotions for "Niga Mipda" (니가 밉다, lit. I Hate You) on M!Countdown. On July 2 and 3, 2PM achieved first place on the M!Countdown and Music Bank charts for the song "Niga Mipda". They achieved the triple crown for the song on M!Countdown by July 16. On July 30, 2PM won the 'Only One Song' award on M!Countdown.

2009: Controversy and rise to prominence

On September 4, 2009, articles surfaced on the internet regarding Jaebeom's posts from 2005 on his personal Myspace account, in which he expressed his dislike for Korea while still a trainee for JYP Entertainment. Jaebeom issued an apology regarding this matter.^[4] Although outraged protesters demanded that Jaebeom should be forced out of 2PM, JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young stated on September 7 that he was going to continue to remain part of the group.^[5] The following day, Jaebeom announced on his official fancafe that he would be leaving the group and returning to the United States, with plans of going back to school and bettering his understanding of music, and also apologized to the other 2PM members for not being a good leader and older brother to the group.^[6] Park Jin-young has confirmed that he will respect the singer's decision, and that 2PM will continue on as a 6-member group.^[1][7] Additionally, due to the sensitive topic of Jaebeom's departure, all 2PM members were withdrawn from their regular appearances on variety shows.^[8]

The group finished re-filming their music video for "Heartbeat", the title song of their first full-length album, without Jaebeom on October 31, 2009. During a press conference, it was revealed that Jaebeom's vocals would not be removed from the songs.^[9] The day after the now 6-member 2PM's full-length album was released, Park Jin-young released a statement that Jaebeom would return as a member of 2PM if he wanted to make a comeback, while indicating that his return was not imminent.^[10][11] In further support of Jaebeom's place in the group, the six 2PM members have also decided to distribute their income from their 1st album with him, sending him an equally divided amount of the earnings.^[12]

The group's first full length album, titled 1:59PM, was released on November 10, 2009.^[13] Both the album and title track, "Heartbeat", quickly rose to the #1 position on multiple music sales charts.^[14] The group made their first comeback performance, signifying the beginning of their promotional activities for the album, on M.Net's ‘O Good Concert’ on Thursday, November 12, 2009,^[15] subsequently making their KBS Music Bank, MBC Music Core and SBS Inkigayo comebacks on Friday, November 13, Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, respectively.

On November 20, 2009, 2PM performed at and was honored with two awards by the M.net Asian Music Awards (previously known as M.net KM Music Festival): the award for Best Male Group and Artist of the Year (the latter being one of the three most prestigious awards, or "Daesang"s, at the show, which also include Song of the Year and Album of the Year).^[16] The group paid homage to him during their performance of "Again & Again", in which a spotlight was shown over Jaebeom's usual position in the dance formation and his vocals were not replaced.^[17]

On November 26, 2009, after two weeks of promotional activities for the 1:59PM album, 2PM earned their first #1 on a TV music show (KBS Music Bank's "K-Chart") since the album's release, with "Heartbeat",^[18] which went on to take #1 on the K-Chart for three more weeks. In addition, "Heartbeat" achieved the "Mutizen" song award Triple Crown on SBS Inkigayo by being the #1 song the Inkigayo "Take 7" chart for three weeks, the maximum amount of time for which a nominated song is eligible to win. On December 30, 2009, at Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)'s end of the year Music Festival, "Again & Again" was recognized as "Song of the Year",^[19] winning with 57,060 votes.

2PM followed up end-of-2009 activities with the second single off of 1:59PM album, "Tired of Waiting". The song was performed live for the first time at the SBS Music Festival on December 29, 2009. 2PM's promotion for the album ended with their SBS Inkigayo performance on January 17, 2010.

Present: 2010

On February 25, 2010, JYP Entertainment announced that Park Jaebeom would not be returning to 2PM, as his contract with the company had been permanently terminated.^[20] A fan meeting/press conference was held two days later with the 6 remaining members of 2PM and JYP Entertainment CEO Choi Jungwook in attendance, where it was announced that although 2PM would continue promoting as 6 members, a new leader would not be chosen to replace Park.

In mid-April 2010, 2PM released image and video teasers for their third single Don't Stop Can't Stop, for which the group promised to showcase an even stronger side of themselves than before.^[21] The EP, containing six tracks, was released on April 19, 2010. The lead single, Without U, quickly rose to the #1 position on 6 different music charts.^[22] The group made their television performance comeback on Mnet's music program M! Countdown on April 22, 2010.

2PM has been confirmed as the opening act for their label-mates, popular girl group Wonder Girls for 9 shows on the latter's United States headlining summer tour.^[23] 2PM also performed at the 8th annual Korea Times Music Festival in Los Angeles, California on May 1, 2010,^[24] and will also be performing at the Dream Concert in Seoul, South Korea on May 22, 2010.^[25]

Overseas activities

Thailand

2PM made their first overseas performance in Thailand in late February 2009 at the Nine Entertain Awards. On June 25, they released their "Thailand Special Edition" album, and began promotions in Thailand shortly afterward. 2PM also performed at the Pop Music Awards in Pattaya.^[26]

China

2PM advanced into the Chinese market on November 25 2009 as they met with their Chinese fans at the 2009 Hanryu showcase (Korea-China Music Festival), held in Shanghai, China. 2PM planned to gradually enter the market through promotions and the release of their first full album.

Malaysia & Philippines

JYPE released 2PM first full album 1:59 at Malaysia and Philippines through Sony Music Malaysia and Philippines.

Other activities

Television hosting

In December 2008, 2PM began to host the third season of MBC's Idol Show (아이돌군단의 떴다!그녀).^[27] The segment ran from December 4, 2008 to March 26, 2009, with a total of seventeen episodes.

The group also starred in a reality show on M.net, titled "Wild Bunny", in which the members escaped the pressures of stardom by performing ten forbidden activities of idols. The show ran from July 21, 2009 to September 1, 2009, with seven episodes aired; the airing of the final episode, which coincidentally featured the members engaged in a "Leader Olympics" game to select a new leader, was postponed indefinitely due to Jaebeom's internet controversy and his subsequent departure from the group.^[28]

In addition, Taecyeon and Wooyoung are hosting SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System)'s weekly music show Inkigayo, while Jaebeom and Chansung have also made regular appearances on 'Introducing Star Friends'. Since Jaebeom was voted off, Nichkhun replaced his position as the guest. Nichkhun and Wooyoung were also frequent guests on SBS's variety talent show Star King between April and October 2009, with the other 2PM members occasionally joining them.

Recently, Taecyeon became a permanent cast member of the second season of Family Outing, a celebrity variety show airing on SBS.^[29] Wooyoung is also now a co-host of the KBS celebrity talk show Win Win.^[30] In March 2010, Junho returned as a permanent cast member of the sports variety show Dream Team 2,^[31] also on KBS, for which he was part of the pilot episode in September before having to withdraw due to Jaebeom's controversy. In June 2010, Nichkhun signed on to be a part of the popular MBC celebrity reality show We Got Married, where he will act as a make-believe husband to Victoria (of Korean girl group f(x) fame).^[32]

Endorsements

In March 2009, 2PM was selected to model for EXR, a clothing company in Korea.^[33] In July 2009, the members of 2PM were selected as the representatives of foreign artists by the Thai government-led tourism campaign, I Love Thailand.^[34] Member Nichkhun has also been selected by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as the face of their newest campaign, "Come to Thailand; Let's Take a Break!"^[35]

In August 2009, 2PM collaborated with the Body Shop in 'Soft Hands, Kind Heart', a worldwide campaign that calls for the protection of children and teenagers against sex trafficking. The members will act as Korea's spokespeople for the campaign.^[36]

In late October 2009, a commercial film (CF) of 2PM promoting Hanami (a Thailand snack company) was released, which also included Jaebeom; the commercial was said to be filmed prior to his departure in September.

November 2009 saw multiple new endorsement deals for the group,^[37] the first of which being a commercial and print campaign for Market O's "Real Brownie" pastry. Shortly thereafter, the group endorsed the Samsung Corby mobile phone, one of the newest mobile devices in Samsung's popular "Anycall" series, both on television and on the Samsung website.^[38] 2PM is also currently endorsing Paris-Croissant Food Company's Paris Baguette bakery franchise, for which the group recorded a special Christmas song and are featured in a series of commercials with popular Korean actress Kim Tae Hee.^[39]

In 2010, 2PM has signed on to endorse Coca-Cola as well as the clothing company SPRIS (also known as PONY).^[40] Members Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Junsu and Wooyoung endorse Cass Beer, and Nichkhun has continued advertising for the Suzuki Jelato motorcycle in Thailand. In addition, 2PM now endorses Calvin Klein South Korea, as well as, most recently, It's Skin, a South Korean cosmetics and skin care brand.

Dance style

2PM's performances consist of a combination of hip hop dance and acrobatics onstage, as shows in their performances of "10 points out of 10 points". All of the members are trained in dancing, acrobatics and singing.^[2]

Members

• Junsu (준수) (born January 15, 1988), full name Kim Junsu (김준수), was born in Daegu, South Korea. Prior to singing, Junsu had entered and won various poem- and song-writing contests.^[41] He originally auditioned for YG Entertainment, where he befriended G-Dragon and Tae Yang of Big Bang. He was accepted into both YG & JYP Entertainment, but chose to take the path of JYP in his final decision.
• Nichkhun (닉쿤) (born June 24, 1988), full name Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul (นิชคุณ หรเวชกุล), is an American citizen of Thai and Chinese descent. He was born in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He spent his childhood in Thailand and California and studied abroad in New Zealand. He returned to the States for high school at Los Osos High and was scouted by a JYP talent agent in Hollywood, California while he was attending the Korean Music Festival in Los Angeles.^[3]
• Taecyeon (택연) (born December 27, 1988), full name Ok Taecyeon (옥택연), was born in Seoul, South Korea. As a young child, Taecyeon (along with his family) moved to Bedford, Massachusetts, where his parents and older sister still currently reside.^[42] He originally auditioned for JYP Entertainment in New York City to become a model. Taec was also on the same audition show as Junho and Chansung, Superstar Survival, but was the first contestant to leave the show. He featured in "Yes I'm In Love" by Bada on her 4th album and Baek Ji Young's 2009 song "My Ear's Candy" (내 귀에 캔디). He currently hosts SBS's music show Inkigayo with Wooyoung, and will be a permanent cast member on Family Outing 2. He debuted as an actor in the 2010 KBS drama series "신데렐라 언니" ("Cinderella's Sister") alongside Moon Geun Young and Chun Jung-myung.^[43]
• Wooyoung (우영) (born April 30, 1989), full name Jang Wooyoung (장우영), is from Busan, Korea and was selected as a JYP trainee through MGoon's JYP auditions, of which he won first place against 5,000 other candidates. Before debuting in 2PM, Wooyoung filled in as a dancer partner with Wonder Girls member Kim Yubin when TOP from Big Bang fainted the day before the special performance with the Wonder Girls during the 2007 MBC Music Awards.
• Junho (준호) (born January 25, 1990), full name Lee Junho (이준호), is from Ilsan, Korea and signed a contract with JYP Entertainment after winning the "JYP's Superstar Survival" talent search (which Taecyeon and Chansung were also contestants in) in 2006, placing 1st out of 6,000 competitors.
• Chansung (찬성) (born February 11, 1990), full name Hwang Chansung (황찬성), acted in the Korean sitcom "Unstoppable High Kick" prior to his debut with 2PM. Chansung participated in the same survival game as Junho but lost. He auditioned a second time and was accepted into the company. He rapped in 2AM's song "To Her" (그녀에게).

Former

• Jaebeom (재범) (born April 25, 1987, full name Park Jaebeom (박재범), was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Originally entering JYP Entertainment as a rapper and b-boy, he trained for four years to improve his singing and Korean. It was initially his mother who led him to apply as he wished to not attend college, and Jin-Young Park (JYP) himself watched his audition and brought him to Korea. He collaborated with Yeeun of Wonder Girls for "正" ("Jeong") on the Han Sung Byul Gok OST. Due to his comments on his MySpace page, he left the group on September 8, 2009.^[44] On February 25, 2010, JYP Entertainment announced that Jaebeom's contract was permanently terminated.^[45]

Discography

Studio albums

• Hottest Time of the Day (2008) (EP)
• 2:00PM Time For Change (2009) (EP)
• The First Album 1:59PM (2009)
• Don't Stop Can't Stop (2010) (EP)

Promotional singles

• "10 Jeom Manjeome 10 Jeom (Korean: 10점 만점에 10점)" (2008)
• "Only You" (2008)
• "Again & Again" (2009)
• "Niga Mipda (Korean: 니가 밉다)" (2009)
• "Heartbeat" (2009)
• "Tired of Waiting" (2010)
• "Without U" (2010)

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Awards

References

External links

• Official Website

JYP Entertainment Executives Jeong Wook (CEO) · Park Jin-young (owner) · Hong Seung-Seong (president of Cube) · Bang Si-Hyuk (president of Big Hit) Current artists 2PM · G-Soul · JOO · Liu Xin · Park Jin-young · Park Joon Hyung · San E · Wonder Girls Subsidiaries Cube Entertainment 4minute  · Beast  · Eddie  · G.NA  · Mario · Young Ji Big Hit Entertainment 2AM · 8Eight · Banana Girl · Kim Sang Mi · Lee Hwan · Lee Hyun · Lim Jeong Hee AQ Entertainment miss A Former artists Byul · Cho Kyu-chul · g.o.d. · Han Soo-yeon · Ivy · K.Will · Kim Dong-yoon · Lee Young-yoo · Lim So-young · Noel · Jay Park · Park Ji-yoon · Rain Website: JYP Ent. · Cube Ent. · Big Hit · AQ Ent. · Category