2PM’s Taecyeon Exposes JYP Entertainment For Restricting His Acting Roles

2PM‘s Taecyeon (also known as Ok Taec Yeon) has become a successful actor, appearing in K-Dramas, such as Vincenzo, Blind, and Bring It On, Ghost.

2PM’s Taecyeon in “Vincenzo.” Taecyeon in “Blind” Taecyeon (left) and Kim So Hyu (right) in “Bring It On, Ghost” | tvN

Currently, he is starring as the half-vampire, half-man, Seon Woo Hyeol, in KBS2‘s romantic-comedy Heartbeat. Promoting his new K-Drama, Taecyeon recently guested on DIVE Studios‘ Daebak Show w/ Eric Nam.

Taecyeon in “Heartbeat”

Host Eric Nam and Taecyeon talked about everything acting-related, from his first role in Cinderella’s Stepsister to watching his own K-Dramas to his dream roles. Eric asked, “I mean, you may have already done it. What is something you haven’t done yet you really want to do?” 

Your browser does not support video.Eric Nam (left) and Taecyeon (right) |  DIVE Studios/YouTube

Taecyeon explained that it had been a dream of his to play an antagonist since his former company, JYP Entertainment, would not allow him to. They wanted him to maintain a clean image.

Um. I mean, back when I was in JYP. I’m not talking sh*t about JYP, by the way! I’m just saying literal fact. They wouldn’t let me do the antagonist. They wouldn’t let me do a villain role. I had to be clean image, very nice or like… I could be a rebel, but you don’t want to be like a serial killer. So, that’s the only dream role that I had before, but then again, I moved company…

— Taecyeon

Your browser does not support video.|  DIVE Studios/YouTube

Looking back, Taecyeon understands why JYP Entertainment had this strict restriction for him. He could potentially receive hate, which would then affect the entire group.

I mean, I understand why. …If it was just me acting like in a villain role and I would get so much hate from doing it … and that might lead to some of the CMs or like commercials that I do would drop. It affects that, and if that’s been affected, then maybe the whole group, 2PM’s image also might go down, so the company was very worried about that, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I understand.’ That’s why I didn’t take the roles, obviously…

— Taecyeon

Your browser does not support video.|  DIVE Studios/YouTube

In 2018, Taecyeon officially left JYP Entertainment and signed with a new agency, 51K. This opened new opportunities for him, and he could finally book his dream role. In 2021, he portrayed the main antagonist in the hit K-Drama Vincenzo, psychopath and serial killer Jang Jun Woo/Jang Han Seok.

During a show called Vincenzo, I did some villain roles, so I was very happy and lucky to have that role as one of my works, projects.

— Taecyeon

Your browser does not support video.|  DIVE Studios/YouTube

We’re so happy for Taecyeon that he has been able to fulfill his dreams!

Read more from Taecyeon’s interview with Eric Nam below.

2PM’s Taecyeon Recounts The Time Junho Broke His Arm