2PM members to perform at supermodel contest

Jun-su and Jun-ho, members of boy band 2PM, will perform at this year's Asia-Pacific Supermodel Contest on Friday, making it their first time to go on stage since former leader Park Jae-beom quit the group.

"The group had cut back on its activities due to the recent incident but we had agreed on giving the performance back a while ago so we decided that Jun-su and Jun-ho would go on stage," said Han Soo-jung, PR manager at the group's agency JYP Entertainment (JYPE).

However, their performance will not be aired on television in consideration of their situation, added Han.

The two will be giving a congratulatory performance at an event held after the main contest underway in Geojedo of the South Gyeongsang Province. Other singers including G-Dragon, 2NE1 and Girls' Generation are also set to appear on the show.

The formerly seven-member group had last appeared on stage at the 2009 Incheon Korean Music Wave concert on September 5. Three days later, 22-year-old Park left the group over controversial remarks he made on his MySpace account before his debut.

An alliance of the group's fan clubs have been calling on JYPE to reinstate the former leader but agency chief Park Jin-young announced last week that the group would resume its activities with its remaining six members.

Fans have declared they would boycott a six-member 2PM on top of previous decisions to boycott the group's products and hold silent protests.

The group has been one of the most popular boy bands in town since their debut in 2008.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr