The Best of the K-pop: 2PM

2PM is a six-member South Korean boy band managed by JYP Entertainment. The current members are Junsu, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho and Chansung.
The members of 2PM found their start under Korean musician Park Jin Young, who formed an eleven-member band known as One Day. Eventually the band was split into 2PM, and a similar but independent group known as 2AM. 2PM 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.^[1] They achieved their first Number 1 single with "Again & Again". Both singles featured on their first studio album, The First Album 1:59PM, released in 2009. The band went on to release another Korean album, known as Hands Up, in 2011. They made their Japanese debut later that year with Republic of 2PM

History

Pre-debut

The members of 2PM all auditioned (except Nichkhun, who was scouted) to become part of JYP Entertainment. Some members already had experience in the entertainment industry, including Kim Junsu, who had won several singing competitions. Ok Taecyeon, Lee Junho and Hwang Chansung had participated in the show SuperStar Survival. Meanwhile, two members were from America: Jaebeom was from the Seattle area, while Nichkhun was from Southern California. Taecyeon spent seven years in Massachusetts before returning to Korea.
Originally, the members of 2PM were part of a larger group known as One Day. A documentary called Hot Blood Men captured the group's training days. It also featured the elimination of three trainees from the group. Lee Swichi, Im Daehun, and Yoon Doo-joon were all cut. Doo-joon would go on to success as the leader of Beast, another K-pop band.
By the end of the training process, One Day had been reduced to a size of eleven. But before the group released any studio albums, the band was split into 2AM and 2PM.

Debut and controversy

Most Korean boy bands have adopted a "pretty boy" (Korean: ggotminam) image. JYP Entertainment opted to brand them as a more mature group.^[3]
Initially, Jaebeom was chosen to serve as the group's leader, as he was the oldest member. He would play key roles in several of the band's early singles and associated music videos.
2PM debuted with their single "10 Out of 10" (10점 만점에 10점) on 4 September 2008. In October 2008, they began to promote "Only You", another song from their debut mini album, Hottest Time of the Day.
In April 2009, the group released their second mini album, 2:00PM Time For Change, which they began promoting that month. In May they won their first Mutizen Song award on M!Countdown, followed by two more and a Music Bank award. On 11 June, 2PM began promotions for "Niga Mipda" (니가 밉다, lit. I Hate You) on M!Countdown. In July 2PM achieved first place on the M!Countdown and Music Bank charts for the song "Niga Mipda". On 30 July, 2PM won the 'Only One Song' award on M!Countdown.
Later that year a controversy regarding Jaebeom emerged. On 4 September 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 some demanded that Jaebeom should be forced out of 2PM, JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young stated on 7 September lent the singer a vote of confidence, suggesting that he would remain in the group.^[5] Yet the following day, Jaebeom announced on his official fancafe that he would leave the group and return to the United States. He planned to return to school and improve his understanding of music. At the same time, he apologized to his fellow band members for not being a good leader and older brother for them.^[6] Park Jin-young confirmed that he would respect the singer's decision, and that 2PM would continue on as a six-member group.^[7][8] Due to the sensitive topic of Jaebeom's departure, 2PM withdrew for several weeks from their appearances on variety shows.^[9]
 

First album and rise to prominence

2PM at press conference in Bangkok, in February 2009

Despite the controversy, the group went ahead with release of its first studio album. Known as 01:59PM, the album was released on 10 November 2009.^[10] Yet questions about Jaebeom remained. The day after the album's release, Park Jin-young announced that Jaebeom could return to 2PM if he wished to make a comeback, although the singer's return was not imminent.^[11][12] In support of Jaebeom, the six 2PM members decided to equally split their income from their first album with him.^[13] The album included tracks voiced by Jaebeom, although his face was excluded from the cover. The group finished re-filming their music video for "Heartbeat", the title song, without Jaebeom in October 2009. Nevertheless, Jaebeom's vocals remained in the audio track.^[14]]
Both the album and title track, "Heartbeat," quickly rose to the number one position on multiple music sales charts.^[15] The group began promotional activities for the album on a variety of music shows, including M.Net O Good Concert,^[16] KBS Music Bank, MBC Music Core and SBS Inkigayo in November 2009.^{[importance?]}
A week and a half after the album's release, 2PM performed at and was honored at the M.net Asian Music Awards^{[importance?]} with awards for Best Male Group and Artist of the Year (the latter being one of the three most prestigious awards at the show).^[17] The group paid homage to Jaebeom during their performance of "Again & Again". During the performance, a spotlight shone over Jaebeom's usual position in the dance formation, and his vocals played over the speakers without being replaced.^[18]
In late November 2009, after two weeks of promotional activities for the 1:59PM, 2PM earned their first #1 on a TV music show (KBS Music Bank's "K-Chart")^{[importance?]} since the album's release, with "Heartbeat",^[19] 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 30 December 2009, at Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)'s end of the year Music Festival, "Again & Again" was recognized as "Song of the Year",^[20] winning with 57,060 votes.^{[importance?]}
2PM's second single from 01:59PM was "Tired of Waiting". The song was performed live for the first time at the SBS Music Festival in December 2009. 2PM's promotion for the album ended with their SBS Inkigayo performance in January 2010.

Don't Stop Can't Stop

On the cover of KoreAm, August 2010

In February 2010, JYP Entertainment announced that Jaebeom would not return to 2PM, as his contract with the company had been permanently terminated.^[21] A combined fan meeting and press conference was held two days later with the six remaining members of 2PM and JYP Entertainment CEO Choi Jungwook in attendance. Management announced that although 2PM would move forward with six members, a new leader would not be chosen to replace Jaebeom.
In April 2010, the band released Don't Stop Can't Stop, a mini-album consisting of six tracks. The group intended for the release to illustrate a stronger^{[clarification needed]} side of themselves than did their previous releases.^[22] The lead single, Without U, quickly rose to the #1 position on six different Korean music charts.^[23] The group made their television performance comeback^{[clarification needed]} on Mnet's music program M! Countdown in April 2010.
2PM served as the opening act for nine Wonder Girls summer shows in the United States in 2010.^[24] 2PM also performed at the eighth annual Korea Times Music Festival in Los Angeles, California in May 2010, and at the Dream Concert in Seoul, South Korea in May 2010.^[25][26]
In May 2010, 2PM released the song "What's Your Celebration?" for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.^{[27][importance?]} The song samples K'Naan's Wavin' Flag.
In July 2010, Taecyeon and Wooyoung left their position of emcees at SBS Inkigayo. The next month, Wooyoung also left Winwin^{[clarification needed]} to concentrat on 2PM's busy schedule. The 1st concerts took place on 31 July, 1 August (in Seoul) & 7, 8 August (in Busan) (2AM & missA were invited as the guests of the concert).
More than 12,000 fans attended 2PM's first concerts in Seoul. 2PM performed all their hit-songs since 2008 plus solo performance from each member. 2PM held two encore concerts in Seoul on 4-5 September to celebrate their second anniversary.
In October 2010, 2PM released their fourth EP, Still 2:00PM,^[28] with the lead single "I'll Be Back" staying at number one for two consecutive weeks in the Music Bank.^[29] In November 2010, Still 2:00PM debuted unexpectedly on the 13th spot of the Billboard's World Album-Chart though no promotions for the album were made in the United States.^[30][31][32]
2PM was granted the “Most Popular Asian Singer” award at the Mandarin Music Honors 2010 in China.^[context?] The group attended the event on 18 October at Wukesong Arena; it was the tenth annual MMH. Previously, Rain, Jang Nara, and Shin Seung Hoon have each taken home the “Year’s Best Korean Singer” award, but this is the first time a Korean artist has won the “Most Popular Asian Singer” award. 2PM performed “Heartbeat” and “I’ll Be Back”.^[33]
2PM officially made their Japanese debut in December 2010 with their first live event in Japan at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Gymnasium, a place well known for sumo games. The platinum showcase was called “2PM 1st Contact in JAPAN” LIVE.^[34]

Japanese debut and Hands Up

In May 2011, 2PM released their Japanese debut-single, "Take Off." The song was featured as an ending song in the Blue Exorcist anime series.^[35] Due to considerable online pre-orders of the limited version A, regular version and limited version B of the single, "Take Off" ranked from No. 1 to 3, respectively, on the pre-order chart of Tower Records Japan.^[36] It also reached Number 1 in the USEN's J-Pop Chart. 2PM was the first Korean band to top that chart.^[37]
2PM’s first Japanese concert tour, known as the "2PM 1st Japan Tour 2011 Take Off," began in Sapporo on May 6 and ended a week later in Tokyo.^[38]
In June 2011, JYP Entertainment released the tracklist of their upcoming second studio album, which would be known as "Hands Up."^[39] The album was released later that month on June 20 2011.^[40] For the first time, the album featured two songs composed by 2PM members: "HOT" by Junsu and "Give it to Me" by Junho.
Hands Up got an "all-kill” crown on all of the major charts. Their title track landed at number one, and several additional songs also placed.^[41] The promotion period for the album was short; it ended just one month after the album's release. This allowed the band to prepare for their Japanese promotions and for their "Hands Up Asia Tour."^[42]
The 2PM Show began broadcasting in July 2011 on SBS’s E!TV cable channel and featured all six members. It was the first time 2PM would emcee a program with their name on it.^[43]
On 30 November 2011, 2PM released their first studio album in Japanese language, Republic of 2PM. It contains all of their Japanese singles released to date (Take Off, I'm Your Man and Ultra Lover) plus the Japanese version of their most recent Korean hit song “Hands Up”, as well as a new song composed by Junsu for Japanese fans called “Hanarete Itemo" (離れていても, Even When We're Apart) and 4 other completely new songs. The main point of the album artwork motif is a taste of the 50’s and 60’s.
Oricon released their sales for 2011, announcing that 2PM was the 2nd best selling new artist in Japan, only behind Johnny & Associates's group Kis-My-FT2, with 990 million yen (12.68 million USD) only in singles, albums and DVDs sales.^[44]
In April 2012, 2PM announced plans to release a documentary film with 2AM, to be known as Beyond The One Day, in Japan.^[45] One Day refers to the group from which 2PM and 2AM both split. On April 13, they released the trailer for the film.^[46]