Lee Junho, the singer-actor and 2PM member, is aiming for a third consecutive hit with his autumn comeback drama, Typhoon Boss. The tvN Saturday-Sunday series premiered on the 11th and has since shown a steady upward trajectory, opening with a 5.9% nationwide rating (Nielsen Korea) and continuing to climb.

Set against the IMF-era 1990s, Typhoon Boss follows those fighting to survive in hard times. In Episode 4, Kang Tae-poong, the role played by Junho, demonstrates a sharp instinct by decisively dropping a contract with Da Bang Textile that teeters on bankruptcy.

That installment drew 9% in nationwide ratings, ranking first among weekend dramas on terrestrial TV, and also topped Netflix Korea’s TV show charts—signaling an influence on par with his previous hit, The Tyrant Chef.

Critics have praised the drama from its pilot for its nostalgic retro visuals and solid storytelling. Even though it isn’t romance-centric like some contemporaries, it has managed to captivate audiences who might otherwise overlook a period piece, earning it the moniker IMF Itaewon Class.

At the center of the buzz is Junho’s performance. In Typhoon Boss, he plays Park Tae-poong, a sales representative at a company facing bankruptcy, whose arc traces his growth from a swaggering youth to a responsible leader. His dynamic with Kim Min-ha adds a refreshing spark, with their on-screen chemistry resonating with viewers.

Junho debuted as a member of 2PM in 2008 and began acting in 2013 with the film The Vigilantes. He subsequently earned recognition in KBS2’s Chief Kim, followed by MBC’s The Red Sleeve and JTBC’s King the Land, cementing himself as a trusted talent. In 2021, he won the MBC Drama Awards’ Best Actor in a Miniseries, and in 2022 he earned the Best Actor in TV award at the Baeksang Arts Awards, further strengthening his dual career as a singer and actor. Now, with Typhoon Boss marking his return after two years, he appears poised to notch a third straight triumph at the box office.

Beyond acting, Junho has continued his music career, staging annual concerts since 2013 and consistently releasing work that showcases his songwriting and composing.

Looking ahead, Ryoo Seung-ryong makes a high-profile return to TV on JTBC on the 25th with Seoul’s Big Company in the title role, while SBS’s Space MeMe, led by Choi Woo-sik and Jung So-min, is also drawing favorable viewership trends. Whether Junho can sustain Typhoon Boss’s momentum remains to be seen, and industry watchers will be watching to see if he can recreate the winning duo dynamic often seen with idol-turned-actors, such as Girls’ Generation’s Im Yoon-ah.