On April 30, the singer and actor uploaded several photos to his personal account, showing himself spending time with staff at an izakaya in Japan. In the caption, he wrote, “Being able to be together is proof that everyone is working hard. Thank you so much for giving me such a wonderful time. Everyone in the universe is the best.”
In the photos, Park Yoo-chun wore a blue knit top and horn-rimmed glasses while drinking beer and enjoying the gathering. Park Yoo-chun also shared behind-the-scenes photos from a shoot, adding, “Thank you so much to everyone. I want to work harder.”
In the images, he appeared with blond permed hair and a patterned jacket while smiling brightly. However, his noticeably thinner appearance, reduced hair volume, and visible ribs quickly became a topic of discussion online. Some netizens expressed surprise at how different he looked compared to his past activities in Korea, when he was widely known as Micky Yoochun from TVXQ and later JYJ.
Park Yoo-chun, born in 1986, was once one of K-pop’s most prominent idol-actors. After debuting with TVXQ, he later became active with JYJ and built a successful acting career through dramas such as Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Rooftop Prince. Park Yoo-chun’s career suffered a major collapse following several controversies.
In 2016, he was accused of sexual assault by multiple women and underwent police investigation. In 2017, the court ruled that he was not guilty, while some of the accusers received prison sentences. However, the scandal still heavily damaged his public image.
In 2019, he became involved in a drug scandal with his former girlfriend Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy. He initially held a press conference and tearfully denied using drugs, saying he had not taken drugs even if his entertainment career was at stake. However, during the police investigation, he later admitted to using methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, and also received a fine and mandatory drug rehabilitation education.
After the controversy, C-JeS Entertainment terminated its contract with him, and Park Yoo-chun effectively stepped away from the Korean entertainment industry. Although he had previously suggested he would retire if he tested positive for drugs, he later resumed activities overseas, including fan meetings and photo book releases. His return sparked backlash from some netizens, who criticized him for continuing entertainment activities despite his past scandal.
Park Yoo-chun is currently mainly active in Japan.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스