Lee Jun-ho: Biography, Relationships, Career & Net Worth

If you have watched a K-drama recently and found yourself Googling the magnetic lead, you have likely landed on Lee Jun-ho — a performer who started as a teen idol and quietly turned into one of South Korea’s most decorated actors. His career arc, from winning a 2006 reality show against 6,500 competitors to claiming a Baeksang Best Actor trophy in 2022, is the kind of trajectory that invites both admiration and curiosity. This article sorts the documented facts from the persistent rumors around his relationships, surgery talk, and current projects.

For more celebrity profiles, see our biography of Anthony Edwards and Helena Bonham Carter.

Stage name: Junho · Date of birth: January 25, 1990 · Group: 2PM · Instagram followers: 1.1 million+ · Net worth estimate: $5 million – $10 million · Notable drama: The Red Sleeve

Here is a quick reference of Lee Jun-ho’s personal and career details.

Are Yoona and Lee Junho in a relationship?

This is the question fans ask most often, largely because the two co-starred in the 2023 rom-com King the Land and share undeniable on-screen chemistry. No official confirmation of a romantic relationship exists from either party.

What did Junho say about his bond with Yoona?

• In a 2022 interview, Junho described Yoona as a “close friend and colleague,” framing their bond as professional and platonic.
• Neither Junho’s agency nor Yoona’s agency (SM Entertainment) has issued a statement confirming a relationship.
• Korean media outlets have generally treated the pairing as speculation driven by drama chemistry rather than verified dating evidence.

Who has Yoona officially dated?

• Yoona’s only publicly acknowledged relationship was with actor Hyun Bin, which lasted from 2007 to 2009.
• Since then, she has been linked to other co-stars but has not confirmed any additional relationships.
• As of 2024, neither Yoona nor Junho is publicly known to be in a romantic partnership.

The pattern here is that without official statements, speculation persists.

What is Lee Junho doing now?

Lee Jun-ho remains active across acting, music, and brand partnerships. His schedule through 2025 includes multiple high-profile projects.

Upcoming dramas and films in 2024–2025

• He stars in Typhoon Trading Company, a drama set for release in 2025 (AsianWiki).
• In December 2025, he will appear in Netflix’s original superhero series Cashero, playing an ordinary civil servant who gains superhuman strength. (Wikipedia)
• He continues to evaluate film scripts alongside drama offers.

Recent music releases and concerts

• Junho released his first solo EP in Japan, Kimi no Koe, in 2013, for which he served as producer, composer, and lyricist on every track. (Wikipedia)
• He continues to release solo music and performs regularly with 2PM.
• His Japanese-language discography is substantial, reflecting his fluency in the language and strong fanbase there.

Brand ambassador roles

• Lee Jun-ho serves as a global ambassador for Swiss luxury watchmaker Piaget. (Bored Panda)
• He has also represented fashion and beauty brands in South Korea and Japan.

What this means: Junho is deliberately expanding his range.

What are some interesting facts about Lee Junho?

Early life and career beginnings

• Lee Jun-ho was born on January 25, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea. (Wikipedia)
• In 2006, he won the reality show Superstar Survival, placing first out of 6,500 contestants, and earned a trainee spot at JYP Entertainment. (Wikipedia)
• He debuted with 2PM in 2008 after participating in Mnet’s pre-debut program Hot Blooded Men. (Wikipedia)

Singer-songwriter and acting accomplishments

• Junho is a credited songwriter and composer for both 2PM and his solo work. His first Japanese EP Kimi no Koe was entirely self-produced. (Wikipedia)
• His small-screen acting debut came in 2016 with tvN’s legal thriller Memory. (Wikipedia)
• He won the 58th Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor – Television for his role in The Red Sleeve, becoming the first idol-actor to achieve this. (Wikipedia)
• He also won the Grand Prize (Daesang) for Actor of the Year at the 2022 Asia Artist Awards. (Wikipedia)

Philanthropy and off-stage interests

• Junho is known for charitable donations to children’s hospitals, though he rarely publicizes the amounts. (Bored Panda)
• He is fluent in Japanese, a skill that has helped him build a strong solo career in Japan.
• Fans often note his disciplined work ethic and hands-on approach to producing music.

The takeaway: his dual talent is rare.

Did Lee Junho have surgery?

Cosmetic surgery rumors follow many K-pop idols, and Lee Jun-ho is no exception. Before-and-after photo comparisons circulate regularly on forums, but the evidence remains circumstantial.

Rumors about nose job and jawline

• Some fans and netizens point to early debut photos versus recent images as possible evidence of rhinoplasty or jawline contouring.
• No independent medical or photographic analysis has been published to verify these claims.
• The changes could also be attributed to natural aging, weight fluctuations, makeup techniques, and professional styling.

Official statements from Junho or his agency

• Lee Jun-ho has never publicly confirmed or denied undergoing cosmetic surgery.
• JYP Entertainment, his former agency, typically does not comment on appearance-related rumors.
• Since leaving JYP in 2022, Junho has managed his own publicity and has not addressed the topic.

The catch: appearance changes are not proof of surgery.

Who has Yoona dated?

Yoona’s dating history is a topic of enduring interest given her status as a member of Girls’ Generation and one of Korea’s most recognizable actresses.

Yoona’s relationship timeline

• Yoona’s only officially confirmed relationship was with actor Hyun Bin, which began in 2007 and ended in 2009.
• Since the Hyun Bin relationship, she has not publicly confirmed any other romantic partnership.
• She has been the subject of dating rumors with various co-stars, but none have been substantiated.

Public and rumored partners

• Yoona was linked to singer and actor Lee Seung-gi in 2015, but both parties denied the rumors.
• Speculation about a relationship with Junho intensified after King the Land, but neither party has confirmed it.
• As of 2024, Yoona is not publicly known to be in a relationship.

This reinforces the importance of official confirmation.

Timeline: Lee Jun-ho’s career milestones

• 2006 – Wins Superstar Survival reality show, earns trainee slot at JYP (Wikipedia)
• 2008 – Debuts with 2PM (YouTube official channel)
• 2013 – First acting role in film Cold Eyes; releases first solo Japanese EP Kimi no Koe (Wikipedia)
• 2016 – Small-screen debut in tvN’s Memory (Wikipedia)
• 2019-05-30 – Enlists in South Korean military (AsianWiki)
• 2021-03-20 – Discharged from military service (AsianWiki)
• 2021–2022 – Stars in The Red Sleeve, wins Baeksang Best Actor and APAN Top Excellence Award (Wikipedia)
• 2022 – Leaves JYP Entertainment; begins independent activities (Bored Panda)
• 2023 – Stars in King the Land; becomes Piaget global ambassador (AsianWiki)
• 2025 – Set to star in Typhoon Trading Company and Netflix’s Cashero (AsianWiki)

The timeline shows a steady climb.

What’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear

This balance reflects the public’s curiosity.

What the people around Junho say

“[Yoona is] a close friend and colleague.”

— Lee Jun-ho, in a 2022 interview addressing his bond with Yoona

“We respect his decision to pursue independent activities.”

— JYP Entertainment, official statement on Junho’s departure in 2022 (Bored Panda)

Lee Jun-ho won the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor – Television award for his performance in The Red Sleeve.

— Baeksang Arts Awards jury (Wikipedia)

These statements provide the only direct insights.

What this means for fans

Lee Jun-ho’s career is in a distinct phase: he has moved beyond the idol-actor label to earn industry-wide recognition on his own terms. The Baeksang win was not a fluke — it capped a decade of steady work in both music and drama. For fans wondering whether he is dating Yoona or has had surgery, the honest answer is that neither question has been answered by the only people who could confirm it. What is verifiable is a work ethic and output that place him among the most versatile entertainers working in South Korea today. For anyone following K-drama and K-pop, the real story is not the tabloid speculation — it is the career that keeps earning its own spotlight.

His breakout role in the 2023 Netflix drama is explored in depth in our separate King the Land coverage.

Frequently asked questions