Lee Junho has received a major government-backed honor recognizing his contribution to the global growth of Korean culture and entertainment.
On August 28, Lee Junho received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award at the 8th Newsis Hallyu Expo, also known as the 2026 K-EXPO, held at Lotte Hotel Seoul.
The award recognized his role in raising the profile of the Korean Wave through his work in both music and acting.
During his acceptance speech, Lee Junho expressed gratitude and reflected on how his career has allowed him to introduce Korean culture to audiences around the world.
“Thank you sincerely for giving me the meaningful Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award,” he said. “I was simply doing the music and acting that I wanted to do, but I feel fortunate to have been part of a time when I could help introduce Korean culture to the world.”
He added, “I will continue working to become someone who can share the strength of K-content through good projects and music.”
Lee Junho debuted as a member of 2PM in 2008 before expanding into acting. His notable projects include Good Manager, The Red Sleeve, King the Land, Typhoon Family, and Netflix’s Cashero.
He has continued balancing music and acting, recently meeting fans through 2PM concerts while preparing for additional entertainment projects and future acting roles.
The Newsis Hallyu Expo was launched in 2019 to support the continued growth of the Korean Wave and strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s cultural industries.
With his latest honor, Lee Junho has once again been recognized for helping bring Korean music, dramas, and entertainment to a wider international audience.
