Since debuting in 2008, second-gen veteran group 2PM has garnered the title of “Beast Idols,” or “Beast-dol” for short. The term refers to the boy group’s manlier image compared to many of their peers and seniors in the industry. While other boy groups were given the “flower boy” concepts and styled to look more delicate and “pretty,” 2PM broke the mold and showed the world that K-pop is multifaceted and that masculinity can co-exist on either side of the spectrum.

The term “flower boy,” or “kkonminam” in Korean, has been commonly used in South Korea since the ‘90s, usually referring to men who put in more effort in their appearances. Through preppy fashion, grooming, and even cosmetics, these types of men are considered the epitome of soft masculinity and sometimes even regarded as androgynous. Early K-pop groups that took on the flower boy image included H.O.T., TVXQ, SHINee (especially Taemin), SS501, among many others. While these groups had dedicated fanbases predominately made up of girls and young women, there was still a good portion of the general public that did not take these idols seriously. Instead, snide comments would be made questioning their masculinity, sexuality, and even referring to them as girls even after being told they were, in fact, men.

There’s a lot to be said here regarding the perception of masculinity and how it has to adhere to one specific stereotype to be socially accepted – especially when it comes to Asian men. But for those who felt K-pop was lacking in a stronger image for its boy groups, 2PM became the answer.

Originally debuting as a seven-member group in 2008, 2PM introduced itself to the world with “10 Out Of 10,” an urban-pop song that heavily drew from hip-hop and R&B. Within the first minute of its coinciding music video, audiences knew they were not your typical boy group. While most other K-pop MVs would show the members innocently trying to charm a female love interest or ask her out on a date, 2PM skipped all the puppy love tropes and went straight for sex appeal. 

The video is centered around the seven members working various jobs at a hotel before ogling a woman (played by K-pop artist G.NA) who checks in, becoming absolutely entranced by her. While attempting and hilariously failing at focusing on their jobs, each member has respective scenes imagining erotic scenarios with the woman. From oil massages to seeing her silhouette in the shower, and even implying a potential threesome, 2PM did not shy away from sexual attraction that would otherwise be considered too taboo for a K-pop group.

Aside from the more mature themes in the video, 2PM’s debut also showcased a particular type of performance that would become the group’s signature style. In addition to the traditionally fun K-pop choreography, 2PM became best known for incorporating acrobatics and breakdancing into their dance style – a unique skill no other K-pop boy group at the time had acquired.

While all of the members were trained in basic acrobatics under JYP Entertainment, members Junho and Chansung were the primary flyers and tumblers of the group, performing daring flips and tricks throughout their performances. The strategy also made sense considering Chansung was trained in taekwondo and kumdo as a child, and former member Jay Park was a B-boy before joining 2PM, allowing both idols to seamlessly blend their dance and martial artist backgrounds with K-pop choreography.

Another non-traditional aspect that many fans found appealing was 2PM’s athletic builds and rugged styling, making them appear more “macho” than the average boy group. Compared to the more slender male idols, every member of 2PM was varying levels of lean, muscular, toned, and had six-pack abs. This was unusual for K-pop boy groups as the industry typically favored slim body types without too much muscle. For many, this was the first time K-pop fans were seeing an idol group with such a strong presence and image, earning the title of “beast idols” and showing that male idols can possess a range of masculinity. Although, retroactively, first-gen boy group Shinhwa is widely considered K-pop’s original beastly idols, the term itself was specifically coined for 2PM and the generations to follow.

As the years went on and 2PM got older, their concepts began maturing along with them. After their 2011 hit, “Again and Again,” the group traded in its acrobatic status for something more understated and sensual in their third studio album, Grown. Just as the title suggests, the album sees the members transitioning from young guys to grown men, and its title track, “A.D.T.O.Y.,”

was the best visual and sonic representation of this. 

Similar to their debut music video, “A.D.T.O.Y.” also leaned into the group’s sensual nature, but took it a lot more seriously this time around. Filmed in all black-and-white, the MV focuses on the members being intimate with their respective love interests, including many almost-kisses and suggestive touches in various locations like the back of a car, the bedroom, and bathroom. At the same time, the choreography is much simpler by 2PM’s standards, accentuating the song’s smooth R&B vibe with erotic hip and pelvic movements. By this point, sexy concepts had grown quite popular in K-pop, but were usually reserved for girl groups. With “A.D.T.O.Y.,” 2PM once again took it upon themselves to paint male idol groups in a new light, blending the typical manly image with a romantic touch that specifically caters to its predominately female audience. It’s become regarded as one of the group’s sexiest songs and videos to date.

From there, the group continued to venture into “gentlemen” concepts that were considered classy, sophisticated, and subtly sexy in a way that just felt natural for 2PM’s progression. Through later songs like “My House” – which saw a resurgence in popularity on TikTok in 2020 – and “Promise,” the members no longer had anything to prove. They had grown into their masculine image with grace and maturity, each concept elevated from the last while maintaining a balance between strong and debonair.

As the next generation of idol groups began debuting, starting with third-gen, we start to see the domino effect of 2PM’s “beastly” impact on boy group masculinity. When former labelmates GOT7 debuted in 2014, the young starry-eyed group inherited 2PM’s initial acrobatic style, incorporating martial arts tricking and street dancing into their performance. It was almost like a passing of the torch, in a sense, given that this was around the time the older group had already begun transitioning out of that phase. And so, GOT7 carried the torch proudly in its early days, gaining attention for not only the cool tricks, but for precise footwork and impeccable synchronicity, as well.

But it wasn’t just 2PM’s performance style that caught on – there were many visual and conceptual inspirations, also. One group, in particular, that stands out in this regard is MONSTA X. Originally debuting with an aggressive hip-hop style in 2015, the initial seven-member lineup earned the title of “Next Generation Beast Idols” with 2018’s “Shoot Out.” Bridging the gap between the group’s abrasive sound and a sultrier image, the track unlocked a new level of notoriety for MONSTA X. Through the group’s seductive yet tasteful styling and particularly, Shownu’s viral chest vibrations in the opening choreography, the K-pop world began seeing MONSTA X less as boys and more like men. A new generation of beastly idols was born.

Visually, MONSTA X also takes after 2PM regarding athleticism and body image, specifically citing the senior group as role models for their stage presence and charisma. Namely, Shownu, I.M., and former member (now soloist) Wonho have garnered the most buzz, with all three idols bulking up tremendously over the years. Since then, there’s definitely been a direct correlation and positive uptick in muscular builds among male K-pop idols, with succeeding groups like Stray Kids becoming fourth-gen examples of the trend. 

With groups like SEVENTEEN and SF9 citing 2PM as direct inspirations, and the group's resurgence in popularity through the 2020s, the legacy is self-evident. What 2PM established was proof that K-pop's image of male idols could hold more than one definition of masculinity. The industry is broader for it.