Jung Il-hoon

Career

Jung Il-hoon began his career as a trainee, filling in for labelmate Yong Jun-hyung during some of G.NA's promotions for "I'll Back Off So You Can Live Better" on music shows in 2010. In 2011, he made his acting debut alongside four other BtoB members in the JTBC sitcom I Live in Cheongdam Dong. He debuted as the main rapper of BtoB in 2012, with the group's official debut on Mnet's M! Countdown on March 21.

2012–2016: Debut in BtoB and early career

From 2012 to 2016, he was a regular guest on Weekly Idol with Apink's Bomi. He collaborated with 4Minute's Gayoon on the song "My Love By My Side" for a musical of the same name, and featured on Hyuna's "Unripe Apple" from her EP Melting. In 2013, he appeared on 2YOON's Harvest Moon EP for the track "Nightmare" and later collaborated with G.NA on her lead single "Oops!" from the Beautiful Kisses EP. In 2015, he starred in the web-drama Webtoon Hero: Tundra Show as Kim Sung-min.

That year, Cube Entertainment announced Hyuna's lead single "Roll Deep" (Because I'm the Best) would feature Jung, and he participated in the album's making; he performed with Hyuna only twice due to BtoB schedule conflicts, and was covered by Cube trainee Kim Hyo-jong. He also featured on Unpretty Rapstar 2's semi-finals with contestant Jiyoon for "This Ain't Me". On May 24, 2017, it was announced he would release a self-composed track as part of BtoB's "Piece of BtoB" solo project; he released "Fancy Shoes" on May 30, a song he had previously performed at BtoB's solo concert BtoB Time 2017.

2017–2020: Solo career beginnings and hiatus

In September 2017, he joined the cast of the web-mockumentary The Cushion alongside Yoo Seon-ho and beauty YouTuber Lena, with episodes uploaded on Naver TV, YouTube, and Oksusu from October to November 2017. On February 12, 2018, it was announced he would release his first solo album in March. The album, titled Big Wave, was released on March 8, containing five tracks which featured fellow BtoB member Hyunsik on "Come Closer" and Jinho of Pentagon on "Always".

The lead single "She's Gone" is a hip-hop song describing complicated break up feelings, which he had previously performed at BtoB's 2017 BTOB Time - Our Concert from December 23 to 24 at the Ilsan Kintex Exhibition Center. He participated in writing and composing all songs on the EP. In October, he was featured on the song "Cookies" from F.T. Island's Lee Hong-gi's EP Do n Do. On February 21, 2019, he dropped a digital single "Spoiler" featuring solo artist Babylon.

2024–present: Return to activities

Jung departed from BtoB following a drug scandal on December 31, 2020, after being investigated by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for using marijuana in prior years. From October 4 to October 6, 2024, he held his first solo art exhibition "Tiny Ark" at KIR SEOUL. On November 21, he released the digital single "lullaby", his first release in nearly six years.

Personal life

Jung Il-hoon enlisted on May 28, 2020, and served as a public service worker. On December 21, 2020, it was reported that he was under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency along with accomplices for purchasing and using cannabis in prior years, and that his case had already been handed to prosecution earlier in July. Cube Entertainment announced his departure from BtoB on December 31, 2020. He submitted two statements of self-reflection to the court on April 15, 2021, and attended the first hearing on the morning of April 22, 2021.

According to the prosecutor's statement, from July 5, 2016 to January 9, 2019, Jung with conspirators remitted 133 million KRW over 161 times using cryptocurrency, and bought and inhaled 826 g and 20 ml of cannabis. After that, Jung did cannabis without conspirators. He admitted all charges. At the decision hearing on the afternoon of May 20, 2021, the prosecutors sought a 4-year prison sentence and a 133.065 million KRW fine.

He submitted a letter of reflection to the court on June 8, 2021, and the trial court sentenced him to 2 years in prison and a fine of 133 million KRW on the afternoon of June 10, 2021. He was arrested in court the same day. He filed an appeal on June 14, 2021 on the basis of misunderstandings of the fact and the law during the initial trial. The prosecution did not file a cross-appeal.

The first hearing of the appeal trial was held on the afternoon of September 2, 2021, while the second hearing was on the morning of October 7, 2021. The content of the indictment was partially changed due to the difference in the number of actual purchases and smoking times and the legal misunderstanding about the fine. A huge amount of petitions from fans were also submitted. The decision hearing scheduled for the afternoon of November 4, 2021 was postponed to the afternoon of November 18, 2021 due to the aftermath of the spread of COVID-19.

The prosecutors sought a 2-year prison sentence and a lower 126.63 million KRW fine. At the sentencing hearing on the afternoon of December 16, 2021, the appeal court overturned the judgment of the trial court, suspending Jung's 2 years prison sentence with 3 years probation. He was also ordered a 40-hour drug treatment and a 126.63 million KRW fine. According to the court, Jung did not systematically smoke marijuana, and his purchase using cryptocurrency did not appear to be deliberate.

He seemed to have voluntarily stopped around January 2019 and had since made efforts to prevent recidivism. He received psychiatric treatment to quit drugs, took online lectures for addiction treatment, and maintained a strong bond with his family as well as other social ties. Since the start of the appeal trial, he submitted 105 statements of self-reflection, and his fans also submitted petitions. On December 24, 2021, he personally apologized through a handwritten letter, which was later archived from his Instagram on September 29, 2022.