A.C.E’s JUNHEE’s Next Bold Move
JUNHEE never imagined he’d be a CEO of his own company. But now, with a debut album coming out in September under his own label, the leader is looking back at a wildly successful year. “I think life has a way of leading you down unexpected paths,” he says in this new interview.
H&P Entertainment
For a long time, JUNHEE considered what kind of music and stage performances he would create if he were to debut as a soloist. After all, he had years to think about it: Since 2017, he’s been the leader and lead vocalist of A.C.E, a boy group that has toured the world countless times and released several hit singles. Earlier this year, A.C.E ended their exclusive contract with Beat Interactive. The company allowed them to keep their name with no conditions “to continue their journey seamlessly.” For now, though, the members are focused on pursuing their own activities as soloists, each working to define themselves individually.
In June, JUNHEE turned 31. Two months later, he announced his first move as a soloist: He would launch his own label, H&P Entertainment, in partnership with PAN Entertainment, aiming to expand his reach to global audiences.
The decision, JUNHEE told me, surprised even him.
“Honestly, it wasn’t something I had ever imagined for myself, nor was it part of any long-term plan. But I think life has a way of leading you down unexpected paths,” he explained. “My passion for making music somehow brought me all the way here, and that feels amazing.”
JUNHEE prefers the unpredictability of running his own label and the freedom that comes with making his own decisions. “After years of experience in the industry and with A.C.E, I felt now was the right time. I also thought that if I didn’t do it now, I might never get the chance. So I started moving right away.”
This week, he released “Supernova”, a groovy, retro-pop single where JUNHEE sings about a love that is “just out of reach.” It’s a sophisticated debut aimed at both Korean and Western audiences. The music video features everything you’d expect from a K-Pop release—excellent styling and inventive choreography—but with a twist: the lyrics are in English, and the video’s concept, about a man who drunkenly falls asleep at a bar and dreams of the woman who drives him crazy, is structured like a short film.
“I actually had the demo for quite a long time, and I thought I should show it when the right moment came,” he said. “I believe that moment is now.”
JUNHEE recruited global producers Peter Wallevik and Daniel Davidsen to work on the album and lead single. He described producing alongside them as “incredibly inspiring,” and said he was drawn to them because of the massive hits they’ve produced in Korea.
In many ways, JUNHEE views his role as CEO through the same lens of responsibility as his role as leader of A.C.E. But there are key differences, particularly the speed with which he can make decisions and move on projects.
“The best part is that I have the final say in decisions. If I judge something to be in line with my standards, I can communicate quickly with my staff and act without delay,” he explained. “I absolutely hate it when planned work gets delayed or loses focus and causes setbacks, so being able to avoid that is definitely a plus for me personally.”
JUNHEE admits that progress can be slow, but he values the new perspective he gains as the boss. Sitting in the producer’s chair, he told me, has given him insight into the K-Pop industry he never had before. “I can see and understand things I couldn’t before,” he reflected. “That’s been a big change for me.”
H&P Entertainment
Still, he knew starting H&P would require immense dedication. It was a risk he was willing to take.
“I can say with certainty that it’s not something you can do unless you dedicate all your working hours, minus sleep, entirely to yourself. Since founding the company, I spend half my day at my computer desk and the other half in the studio or a practice room,” he explained. “Still, I don’t regret it because it’s the path I chose.”
His primary goal for his debut record is to create an album “you can listen to all day without growing tired of it.”
The sound, he said, may surprise longtime fans. “This time, I included a much wider range of genres—pop, R&B, rock, and acoustic—far more diverse than A.C.E’s albums,” he explained. “I did struggle with that choice, but since it’s my first solo album, I wanted to show everything I had to offer. I selected songs that, by my standards, are the best for listening after a lot of thought.”
JUNHEE remains deeply grateful for the foundation A.C.E provided. He spent most of his twenties with the members, and he credits them with shaping the person he is today. “I think it was a time when I learned a lot about who I am,” he reflected. “In my early 20s, I didn’t really know myself, so I got hurt a lot and didn’t know how to deal with things, often wandering emotionally. I think I learned how to handle that through my time with A.C.E—talking with the members and learning how to respect each other. It was a period that really helped me mature.”
In a twist of irony, JUNHEE recently experienced his first real viral moment covering SAJA BOYS’ “YOUR IDOL” from the hit Netflix movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. In just over a month, the music video has gained close to 5 million views and, in JUNHEE’s interpretation, has been given new life by a new idol.
He insists he had no real expectations. “I just thought it would be really fun! After all, it was an animation based on K-pop, and at the time I uploaded the cover, there weren’t any examples of idols doing it yet, so I found it really interesting,” he said.
When I asked if he expected this level of response, he was adamant: “Not at all. I swear I didn’t expect it in the slightest. I just thought, ‘It’s been a while since I uploaded a cover video, so let’s put in some effort and make it cool!’ That was it. I had no idea what would happen after.”
The massive success of SAJA BOYS and the K-Pop Demon Hunters brand has given JUNHEE an unexpected runway to debut as a soloist. In a meta-twist, K-Pop Demon Hunters is fictional—but JUNHEE is, ironically, the perfect kind of real idol to sing this giant song. For new fans, it’s a chance to discover just how powerful his vocals are—and how untouchable his visuals remain.
H&P Entertainment
Today, as JUNHEE reflects on his years with A.C.E, he finds it hard to choose a single defining memory. There are too many: nights when he bonded with his members, moments when he found his voice as a leader.
“But one that comes to mind now is from before our debut, when we were trainees,” he told me. “After late-night practice, the five of us would sit together in our dorm, cook up a big pot of instant ramen, and share a can of beer, toasting each other. I don’t know—it’s such an old memory, but I think it stands out because we were so pure back then, just running toward our dreams, encouraging each other.”
He is most sentimental when he looks back at those times. The most challenging and rewarding parts of his career all tie back to A.C.E. “If you asked me this question 100 times, I’d give the same answer 100 times: the beginning and journey of A.C.E. Through that choice and process, I learned and realized so many important things in life,” he said. “That’s how I became who I am today, and I’m still moving forward based on that foundation. A.C.E is my 20s itself. If someone asked me about my 20s, I could just show them A.C.E. That’s how big a part of my life it is.”
Now, older, wiser, and perhaps even braver, JUNHEE is ready to tackle new experiences. His album arrives in the second week of September, with plans for an eventual tour underway. More than anything, JUNHEE is grateful to still be here—to still have the chance to meet new challenges, this time as a soloist.
“I think I’ll be excited just knowing that fans will now be enjoying my solo songs with me,” he said about the possibility of meeting fans again. “Since this album is filled with songs I have so much affection for, I’d be so happy just to be able to sing them with my fans.”
Perhaps the best lesson he’s learned is that new chapters can begin at any point, even nearly a decade into his career. JUNHEE now sees how much he’s capable of—and how far his support has taken him.
“I don’t know if it’s just good luck, but even before releasing my album, so many good things have been happening this year,” he said. Then, to show his deep appreciation, he added: “I really want to thank everyone again.”
