Korean actor and singer Lee Jun-ho has marked a new chapter in his career, with the launch of his agency O3 Collective. On 18 August, the King The Land star took to his Instagram to make the official announcement, surprisingly his global fanbase with the news.
The star first debuted under JYP Entertainment back in 2008 with the second generation K-pop boy band 2PM, which took the world by storm. So fans were understandably shocked when he announced his departure from the mega label earlier this year in March, after over 17 years. But little did fans know that he had planned to establish his roots as the CEO of O3 Collective.
According to the celebrity’s representatives, the name O3 Collective signals the actor’s future vision as he embarks on this new journey. “It is a creative group where three elements—an artist’s identity (One), originality in content (Original), and management’s system (Orbit)—work together to form a single creative orbit,” says the agency.
But Lee is not on this journey alone. He founded the creative collective with Yang Hye-young, who previously worked with major Korean conglomerate CJ ENM. Now, with O3 Collective, fans are hoping to get a closer peek into Lee’s world and his upcoming projects.
For those unacquainted, the baby-faced actor made his screen debut in 2013, with the film Cold Eyes, and has since gone on to act in productions like Good Manager and Rain Or Shine. As a solo artist, he has also released two studio albums, alongside eight EPs, in his extended career.
Lee’s decision to set up his management company reflects a larger shift in the Korean entertainment scene. In years past, many major players in the K-pop industry have struck out on their own. For instance, Jay Park, who was formerly also part of 2PM, established hip-hop labels AOMG and H1gher Music in 2013 and 2017, respectively.
More recently, three of the four Blackpink girls also established their own management labels, after their individual contracts with YG Entertainment came to a close. The self-owned companies allow these longstanding artists to retain more creative control and freedom, as they grow in their solo careers.
While much remains to be seen from O3 Collective, one thing’s for certain: Lee’s career is about to hit new highs, and we can’t wait.
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