Gentlemen's Game is the sixth Korean and eleventh overall studio album by South Korean boy band 2PM. The album was released on September 13, 2016, by JYP Entertainment as a celebration of their eight-year anniversary together. It was the final Korean release by 2PM before the members began their mandatory military service.
On September 4, 2016, 2PM's eighth anniversary since debuting, 2PM member Lee Jun-ho posted a schedule of 2PM's new album release dates.[1][2] The teaser images of the members were released from September 5 to September 8,[3][4][5] the music video teaser was released on September 9, and the track list and album spoiler were released on September 10.[6] The final teaser was a choreography spoiler uploaded to JYP Entertainment's YouTube channel on September 11.[2] The official music video for the title track "Promise (I'll Be)" was released on September 13, along with the release of the full album.[7][8] On the same day of the album's release, 2PM member Taecyeon announced that it would be the group's final Korean music release prior to the group going on hiatus due to the group's members enlisting in the South Korean military.[9]
The album consists of eleven tracks, primarily of the electro-R&B genre,[9] seven of which credit 2PM members Taecyeon, Wooyoung, or Chansung for lyrics and/or composition. The title track, "Promise (I'll Be)", was co-written and co-composed by 2PM member Taecyeon.[10][11] One of the tracks written by Chansung, "Make Love", was notably banned by the Korean Broadcasting System due to its lyrics describing one's desire to have sex with a lover.[12]
In the hour leading up to the release Gentleman's Game, 2PM held a live premiere event via V Live+ on September 12, 2016, where they performed songs from Gentleman's Game including "Promise (I'll Be)".[7][11] The group then performed the song for two weeks on Korean television music programs, starting with the September 22, 2016 episode of M Countdown.[13] 2PM also promoted the album through various Korean variety show guest appearances in which they performed title track "Promise (I'll Be)", such as the September 10, 2016 episode of the eighth season of Saturday Night Live Korea, which they hosted,[14][15] and the October 1, 2016 episode of You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook.[16]
The album debuted at number-one on the Gaon Album Chart, where it charted for five consecutive weeks.[17] The album also topped ITunes album charts in four other Asian countries, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Singapore, as well as the Apple Music album chart in Thailand.[18] In Japan, the album peaked at number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart, where it charted for a total of eight weeks.[19] In the United States, the album peaked at number 11 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales.[20]
↑강, 내리 (September 5, 2016). "2PM, 컴백 앞두고 준호·우영 티저 공개…유니크한 변신"[2PM Unveils Junho and Wooyoung Teasers Ahead of Comeback… Unique Transformation]. YTN Star (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑정, 안지 (September 6, 2016). "2PM 닉쿤-찬성, '고급 외모+ 미친 수트핏' 대체불가 티저 이미지 공개"[2PM's Nichkhun and Chansung Unveil Irreplaceable Teaser Images Featuring 'Sophisticated Looks + Insane Suit Fit']. 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
12Park, Pan-seok (September 13, 2016). "2PM、新曲「Promise」MV公開…6人の男気溢れるジェントルマン"[2PM releases music video for new song "Promise"... Six manly gentlemen]. Kstyle (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑김, 경욱 (September 12, 2016). "2PM, 'Promise(I'll be)' 발표 '업그레이드된 완전체 컴백'"[2PM Releases 'Promise (I'll be)', 'Upgraded Full Group Comeback']. 화이트페이퍼 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
12하, 나영 (September 13, 2016). "'컴백' 2PM 택연, 음악+연기 다 되는 퍼펙트 '만능돌'"['Comeback' 2PM's Taecyeon, the perfect 'all-round idol' capable of both music and acting]. 픽콘. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑황, 서연 (September 22, 2016). "[TV온에어] 레드벨벳 '엠카' 1위, 2PM·인피니트 '오빠들의 귀환'"[[TV On Air] Red Velvet Takes 1st Place on 'M Countdown', 2PM & Infinite 'The Return of the Oppas']. 티브이데일리 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑박, 소영 (September 10, 2016). "2PM, 'SNL8'서 '와일드버니' 변신..짐승돌의 화끈한 19금쇼"[2PM Transforms into 'Wild Bunny' on 'SNL8'... The Beast Idols' Sizzling 19+ Show]. 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑박, 소영 (September 10, 2016). "'SNL8' 2PM, #디스 #노출 #신곡..'짐승남' 매력 뿜뿜 [종합]"['SNL8' 2PM, #Diss #Exposure #NewSong... Bursting with 'Beast Man' Charm [Roundup]]. 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑허, 별희 (October 1, 2016). "'스케치북' 2PM 우영 "연애하는 멤버? 일단 나는 아냐""['Sketchbook' 2PM's Wooyoung: "Members dating? For now, it's not me."]. 마이데일리 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026– via Daum.
↑김, 유진 (September 16, 2016). "2PM, 아시아 4개국 아이튠즈 차트 1위 '후끈'"[2PM Heats Up #1 on iTunes Charts in 4 Asian Countries]. 텐아시아 (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026– via Daum.
