Junho Talks "Just Between Lovers", 2PM Contract Renewal, and Enlistment

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

2PM’s Junho opened up about working on his latest drama, JTBC’s “Just Between Lovers” and his career as an actor. In the drama, Junho played the role of Kang Doo, a youth living a rough life as he is chased by the trauma of a past accident. He expanded his acting spectrum by portraying a layered character and he also worked well with his co-star Won Jin Ah.

“Just Between Lovers” has been praised as a drama that has left a lasting impact on its viewers. Junho agreed and explained that he believes the charm of the drama is its slow buildup. He stated, “A lot of people around me said that though the drama started with a big event, it’s been nice to see a drama with a slow but strong buildup. That’s what I liked about the drama when I first received the script.”

When asked whether it was difficult for him to separate himself from his character because Kang Doo was someone with many scars and pains, Junho said, “Luckily, I’ve been on tour in Japan. Having that has helped me naturally separate myself from the character. But I still feel sad now that the drama has ended. I spent all day yesterday looking up articles about the drama. I would usually look for responses after each episode, but I can’t do that anymore. I think it will take some time to completely separate from the drama. For some reason, my body ached more than usual yesterday.”

Along with the praise for the drama, many had positive things to say about Junho’s acting. Expressing his gratitude for the praise, Junho said, “I’m in my sixth year since I began acting. I’ve done about one project a year, and I tried to do a project whenever I had a free chance. It’s been difficult to juggle acting and being a singer, and sometimes the timing just didn’t work out. Though I haven’t done many productions, I’m grateful that people are recognizing my acting. I think ‘Chief Kim’ played a big role in that. There’s a studio I’ve used to get work done for the past eight years, and people didn’t used to notice me that much. But after ‘Chief Kim,’ even elderly people began recognizing me and that was such an interesting experience.”

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In a recent interview, 2PM’s Junho talked about being the first artist to renew their contracts with JYP Entertainment twice.

On January 31, JYP Entertainment announced that five of the six 2PM members had chosen to re-sign with the agency for the second time. Taecyeon, who is currently serving in the military, will discuss the possibility of renewing his contract once he completes his service.

Junho reported, “All six of us agree that we should stay together forever as 2PM no matter what, which makes me really happy.”

He explained that even before renewing their contracts with JYP, all six members had been determined to keep the group together. “We went into discussions with the idea that whether some of the members renewed or not, we would still stay 2PM forever,” he said.

Junho also brought up the fact that 2PM was the first artist in JYP history to renew their contracts with the agency more than once. “To be precise, it’s a re-renewal of our contracts,” he remarked. “2PM is the first to re-renew. I liked the idea that we were the first.”

He went on to describe 2PM’s unique relationship and close bond with the company. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve watched JYP mature and grow, and because we’ve seen how the agency used to be, we feel comfortable and at home,” he said. “Honestly, we have a hyung-dongsaeng (brotherly) relationship with the executives. And what’s really important and great is that because we’ve been through so much together, we feel so comfortable with the CEO that we even feel free to complain to him directly.

“We can’t behave petulantly with Park Jin Young, but we do with CEO Jung Wook. We freely express when we’re dissatisfied with each other. That’s why it was so easy to renew our contracts.”

He added, “Above all else, it was most important for the members to stay together.”

When asked about the group’s teamwork, Junho replied, “Amazingly, although we sometimes argue a little, it never ends up reaching the level of an actual fight. I think we have that kind of respect and consideration for each other. Of course, we used to fight sometimes in the past, but now, I can’t remember anything like that. All the members are really considerate of one another and very patient.”

On the subject of his military enlistment, Junho commented, “I don’t have definite plans, but I should go sometime soon. I don’t know if it will be next year or when exactly it will be, but I’m starting to prepare little by little.”

He also talked fondly about Taecyeon, saying, “Since he was the first member to enlist, we all went to see him off. I saw a certain manliness in him that I’d never seen before. It made me think, ‘Was Taecyeon always this manly?’ He looked very cool.”

“I miss him,” Junho continued. “After seeing him for 10 years, suddenly not being able to see him for two years makes me sad. Because I was busy with filming, I couldn’t go to see him on his last day off, but I plan to go this month.”

Sources: Soompi/Naver | Soompi/Naver 1 2

Mostly wanted a post to talk about how much I loved Just Between Lovers, it was great and I'd highly recommend it.

Comments

[raved.livejournal.com]

I honestly did not think I would become so invested in JBL. I'm always prepared to drop dramas even if my faves are in them because I get too picky, but everything about it was like a breath of fresh air. Even classic tropes felt like they had new life when this drama tackled (and often remixed) them. Plus the cinematography was gorgeous! And the OST! And the cast, even really minor people we only saw for a scene or two, were really good.

Junho's acting just keeps getting better and better. It's so cool seeing him on those ~good idol actor~ lists now. People actually knowing Junho now has me reeling because it's such a far cry from his "Junho nugyu/Junwho?" days. lol

As for 2PM, I'm so glad that 2PM will stay in one company. I know a lot of people are pretty fed up with JYPE and want 2PM to leave, but I don't think there's any company who would be willing to take in a whole 2nd gen group. :\

[rabbitfacts.livejournal.com]

omg i loved JBL! I haven't finished it yet (with 3 eps to go) because I'm mentally preparing myself for the emotional rollercoaster, but all the way through it's been just beautiful, and Junho's acting impressed me to no end!

i hope you don't mind me asking, do you know if there's a bigger version of the pic from the icon you're using lol? :)

[raved.livejournal.com]

I don't mind at all! It's from when Junho was in Hawaii in 2015



(hopefully resizing code works so it's not huge in the comment)

[froggster.livejournal.com]

lmao the junwho days were so rough for us junho stans. (even though he almost always had the most screentime in MVs lol)

[weneedmedicine.livejournal.com]

I didn't finish JBL because too much angst and near-death experiences, but I have a huge crush on both of them. Might suck it up and finish after Prison Playbook

[lemonadetea.livejournal.com]

I don't know how I didn't know who Junho was until this drama! He's so cute.

I'm glad he's stopped looking at comments after each episode. That sounds stressful (like the webtoon artist in JBL lol).

[fadeintoyou.livejournal.com]

He was phenomenal in JBL. And I really need to go back and watch chief kim.

Yay for him getting some much deserved recognition. I remember how he used to say he was the least recognized of them all

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

HA. the one thing that caused me to get up "early" twice a week to sub it and had to finish every ep in about 3 hrs. good thing i'm paid more for this. and i'm glad it's over now. also glad it's not one of those super annoying romantic drama i cannot stand. I adore the relationship between him, granny and his "noona", and sangman and his mother ofc. although the whole liver problem part is SO unnecessary. ugh korean drama, just had to be dramatic, huh.

[raved.livejournal.com]

I actually thought the whole liver thing wasn't awful, especially not for a melodrama. lol It showed how truly little Kangdoo had cared about himself, since they implied he'd been getting nosebleeds since before he even re-met Moonsoo. I agree they could have showed that in a different way though.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

but if feels like they dont even bother to write it properly. it only shows up on few last ep and they resolve it with miraculously he got a new liver, like come on now! if they really want to add this problem, i feel it'd be better if he write him dead. i was actually curious to see how they'd end it when we first found out about his liver problem. like it'd be so interesting if he ended up dead. idk i think i'm just so meh with happy ending in kdrama (which i dont even watch a lot). that's also why i'm happy the architect and his ex-gf don't end up together.

[raved.livejournal.com]

idk they dropped hints early on, with Granny saying if she had been giving him only painkillers (and not a mix with supplements), he would've died a long time ago. After that, I felt hyper focused on whenever he popped pills like they were candy. The nosebleed in episode 10 it finally validated it.

I'm usually all for sad endings, but it would have been too out of place with JBL's message of hope and healing. You can't really have either of those when the main guy's dead. He barely got to start healing and his death would've given Moonsoo even more trauma. All the characters would've been devastated. I don't even want to imagine Sangman's reaction. :(

I'm also happy that Yoojin didn't end up back with Joowon! She can focus on her company now and find someone better later.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

yea i know they dropped the hints here and there but they didnt really address it until later on after all the other problems they have already resolved, like when you think they're happy and everything, then they reveal the liver problem. and then they solve it like that. but then again i never really like kdrama, so...

[jade-seas.livejournal.com]

So 2 months ago I knew nothing about this guy except that he is in 2pm. Two back-to-back drama marathons later I'm a full-blown Junho stan. He's *SUCH* a great actor.