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Former 2PM leader Park Jae-beom will not be making his much-anticipated comeback to the K-pop music scene as the group's agency JYP Entertainment (JYPE) has decided to terminate its contract with the singer.
JYPE announced the unexpected outcome through a message on its official website Thursday, saying that Park's confession to "a huge personal wrongdoing" led to the decision.
The singer had called his agency's president Jeong Wook in late December, admitting to a "mistake" he made while promoting 2PM's hit single "Again and Again" last summer which was belatedly causing problems.
JYPE did not reveal further details, saying it was linked to his personal life, but explained it was "far worse" than the controversial comments Park came under heat for last year and "something that could create much more serious trouble on a societal level."
Park, 22, had quit the boy band and returned to his hometown of Seattle in September after remarks he made before his debut on his MySpace account regarding Korea became public and sparked national controversy.
As fans pleaded for his return and the public outrage died down however, JYPE founder and the band's producer Park Jin-young hinted at readmitting the singer to the boy band early this year, even mentioning it several times on television shows.
JYPE explained in its message yesterday also that Park Jae-beom's comeback had been long planned; when he returned to his hometown in Seattle, Park Jin-young set the singer up with local instructors -- in acrobatics, dancing and vocals -- to continue training him.
The two Parks had agreed that the former idol return to Korea and hold a press conference in February after the Lunar New Year's break, making his official comeback in time with 2PM's new album release in April.
After the young singer broke news of his blunder however, the agency told the remaining six members -- Junsu, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho and Chansung -- about the matter on January 3, which came as "a big shock."
His band members judged it would be "difficult to work with Park Jae-beom as the group 2PM any longer" while JYPE also came to the conclusion that Park is "no longer fit to be the agency's artist."
Despite the drama surrounding the group, an official at JYPE said in phone call with Asia Economic Daily later on Thursday that they plan to go forth with the fan meeting scheduled for February 27.
2PM members had recently announced that they will be meeting with fans to talk directly with fans about various issues including Park's leave from the group as well as rumors surrounding the incident.
2PM, one of the most popular idol groups in town since their debut in 2008, saw a successful comeback as a six-man band last December with their single "Hearbeat."
Editor in Chief : Hwang Yong-hee hee21@asiae.co.kr
Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
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