According to a recent interview with Variety, Lee Junho is entering a new phase of his career one defined not by comfort, but by creative risk.
Fresh off the global success of Cashero, the actor and 2PM member is already preparing to flip expectations again, this time by stepping into a villain role in Veteran 3. For Lee, reinvention isn’t a strategy it’s the goal.
Why Cashero Was a Turning Point
After portraying powerful, polished characters like a Joseon-era king in The Red Sleeve and a chaebol heir in King the Land, Lee intentionally chose Cashero as a sharp departure. In the series, he plays Kang Sang-woong, an ordinary civil servant whose superpowers come at a literal financial cost.
In his Variety interview, Lee explained that what drew him in wasn’t the superhero element itself, but how grounded the character felt. Sang-woong worries about money, saving for a home, and making everyday choices making him deeply relatable despite the fantasy setting.
That balance paid off. Cashero reached No. 2 globally on Netflix and entered the Top 10 in more than 70 countries, with fans worldwide turning the show into a cultural moment. Lee even noted viral fan memes where viewers jokingly offered their own currency to help his character “power up.”
Global Stories, Local Emotions
Lee has become known for choosing projects rooted in Korean experiences while still resonating internationally. He admitted that he once worried whether historically or culturally specific stories like Typhoon Family, set during Korea’s IMF crisis would connect with global audiences.
Seeing international viewers respond emotionally to those narratives reassured him. For Lee, authenticity matters more than chasing trends. Not every project needs to be a global hit, but every role needs to feel honest.
Music, Acting and a Common Goal
Despite decades of live performance experience and sold-out concerts, Lee doesn’t believe being an idol automatically translates into acting confidence. Singing on stage and performing for a camera, he said, are entirely different disciplines.
What connects them is intention. Whether through music or drama, his focus remains the same: moving people emotionally.
Building His Own Path With O3 Collective
Lee has also taken on more responsibility behind the scenes by founding O3 Collective, a company centered on artistic identity, originality, and structured management. Still, he emphasized that the company hasn’t changed how he chooses roles.
He remains, at his core, an artist first leaving management to professionals while he focuses on storytelling. Looking ahead, he hopes O3 Collective can become a creative home for like-minded artists with shared values.
The Risk Ahead: Becoming the Villain
His next transformation may be his boldest yet. In Veteran 3, Lee takes on a villain role something he has never done before. He described the decision as necessary at this stage of his career.
For Lee Junho, growth doesn’t come from repeating success. It comes from stepping into unfamiliar territory, embracing uncertainty, and surprising audiences again and again.
As he told Variety, his ambition is simple but demanding: to ensure that every new project reveals a side of him viewers haven’t seen before.
And if Cashero proved anything, it’s that Lee Jun-ho’s evolution is far from over
Editor’s Insight
The Variety interview highlights a fascinating shift in Junho’s internal compass. While most actors at his level of fame look for “safe” hits to maintain their CF (commercial) value, Junho is intentionally chasing “Local Emotions” narratives like the IMF crisis in Typhoon Family that he once feared wouldn’t translate. The global Top 10 success of Cashero (reaching over 70 countries) proved him wrong; international audiences didn’t just want a superhero, they wanted to see Kang Sang-woong struggle with his bank balance. This “grounded fantasy” has become Junho’s signature.
His transition into a villain role for Veteran 3 is the most talked-about casting move of 2026. Following in the footsteps of legendary Veteran villains like Yoo Ah-in and Jung Hae-in, Junho is stepping into a franchise known for defining the “face of evil” for a generation. For an actor known for his “eye smile” and warm “Meloman” energy, this is a total subversion of his public image.
Behind the scenes, the founding of O3 Collective signals that Junho is playing the long game. By separating his “artistic identity” from traditional corporate management, he’s creating a sanctuary where “originality” takes precedence over “commercial trends.” In 2026, Lee Junho isn’t just appearing in stories; he’s building the infrastructure to tell them on his own terms.