2PM
2PM (Korean: 투피엠; RR: Tupiem) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment in 2008 composed of six members: Jun. K (formerly known as Junsu), Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, and Chansung. Originally a seven-piece group, Jaebeom left the band in 2009. Unlike most Korean boy bands at the time, 2PM constructed a tough and masculine image through their intense performances often featuring acrobatic stunts and sex appeal. As a result, 2PM is known for creating the jimseung-dol (translating to "beast idol" in Korean) phenomenon within South Korea. As the group grew older, they stopped incorporating acrobatics in their choreography routines and transitioned into a more gentlemanly image. The group has achieved commercial success in several regions in Asia, including South Korea, Japan, and Thailand, as a leading figure of the Korean Wave.
Through the reality TV series Hot Blood Men, Korean producer J.Y. Park formed an eleven-member band known as One Day. Eventually, the band was split into the dance-focused group 2PM and the ballad-oriented group 2AM. 2PM debuted with the song "10 Out of 10" on September 4, 2008. They achieved their first number-one single with "Again & Again" in 2009, which contributed to them winning the 2009 MAMA Award for Artist of the Year. Both singles, along with their hit song "Heartbeat", were featured on their debut studio album, 01:59PM (2009), which topped the first issue of the Gaon Album Chart. From 2010 to 2011, they cemented their popularity across Asia with their streak of hit songs: "Without U", "I'll Be Back", and "Hands Up", all of which were included in their second studio album, Hands Up (2011).
2PM ventured into the Japanese music scene in 2011 with their debut Japanese single "Take Off" and their debut Japanese studio album, Republic of 2PM. As the group began writing and producing more of their own music, they enjoyed significant commercial success in South Korea with their subsequent albums: Grown (2013), Go Crazy! (2014), No.5 (2015), and Gentlemen's Game (2016), each of which peaked within the top 3 on the Gaon Album Chart. 2PM achieved even greater success in Japan, with their albums Legend of 2PM (2013), Genesis of 2PM (2014), 2PM of 2PM (2015), and Galaxy of 2PM (2016) all topping the Oricon Albums Chart. Furthermore, out of their twelve Japanese singles, nine have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for selling over 100,000 copies; Galaxy of 2PM also has received this certification.
The group took an official hiatus in 2017 due to mandatory military service. Following the members' discharge, 2PM returned with their seventh Korean studio album Must and Japanese EP With Me Again in 2021.
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