A New Era, A New Role for Junho
After lighting up screens in romantic dramas, 2PM’s Junho is back—and this time, he’s swapping boy-next-door charm for business-savvy grit. In tvN’s latest weekend K-drama “The Agency of Daepung”, Junho plays Kang Daepung, a rookie trading agent who accidentally finds himself at the helm of a failing company in the middle of Korea’s 1997 financial meltdown.
Nostalgia + Survival = Prime K-Drama Fuel
Directed by Lee Najung, the series dives headfirst into the survival stories of everyday people who clung to hope—even when the economy was collapsing. Think of it as Korea’s answer to ‘Mad Men’ if Don Draper was broke, under 30, and wearing a slightly ill-fitting suit from 1997.
Joining Junho is Kim Minha, who plays Oh Mison, a logic-first ace accountant who balances out Daepung’s impulsive energy. “She analyzes every situation with reason and aims to be a professional trader,” Kim explained, adding that capturing the tone and vocabulary of the era was key to building her role.
Fashion Forward (and Backward)
To channel the ’90s chaos, Junho fully committed to the part—literally from head to toe. “I tried on leather suits and even bleached parts of my hair,” he shared. “I wanted to go all-in and dye everything, but the filming schedule didn’t allow it.”
Plus, the drama’s set and props are so meticulously retro, it feels “like a time machine,” Junho added. Kim agreed: “The strength of the set helped us naturally immerse ourselves into that era.”
From Idol to Indie CEO
This series also marks Junho’s first major project since leaving JYP Entertainment in April and launching his own agency, O3 Collective, in August. “It was all happening at the same time—the shoot and the company launch,” Junho said. “In a strange way, that helped me connect more deeply with Daepung.”
YoonA’s Shadow—and Her Congrats
“The Agency of Daepung” airs right after tvN’s blockbuster “The Chef Tyrant,” which starred Girls’ Generation’s YoonA—who co-starred with Junho in 2023’s hit “King the Land.” When asked if they’d talked, Junho smiled: “We messaged each other—’Congrats!’ and ‘It turned out really well.’”
But riding high off someone else’s success is never easy. “The bar is definitely higher now,” Junho admitted. “We felt that during filming. But rather than feeling pressured, we’re focused on making the best story possible.”
Chemistry You Can’t Script
Off-screen and on-camera, the co-stars clicked. Kim praised Junho’s flexibility and openness: “Even when scenes didn’t go as planned, we flowed. He’s a safe space—genuinely supportive.” Junho echoed those thoughts, emphasizing their natural rhythm. “Our characters are polar opposites, which created tension but also funny, unspoken chemistry.”
Big Stakes, Bigger Hearts
With its heartwarming message about resilience and its nostalgia-packed setting, “The Agency of Daepung” aims to be more than just a period drama. And the leads are just as invested as their characters. “We poured our hearts into this,” Kim said. “We want that sincerity to reach the viewers.”
And Junho? Ever the goal-setter. “Of course I want this to succeed,” he said. “But above all, it has to be fun—for us and for everyone watching.”
When and Where to Watch
“The Agency of Daepung” premieres on tvN at 9:10 PM KST on May 11—and drops the same day on Netflix for global audiences. Get ready to cry, cheer, and maybe dust off that old pager if you’re feeling nostalgic.
