On July 7, Park Yoochun uploaded several photos to his personal social media account, accompanied only by a series of emojis. Although he appeared cheerful and with a bright smile, many fans immediately noticed how much weight he seemed to have lost compared to his previous appearances. His noticeably slimmer physique quickly became a topic of discussion online, with many expressing concern about his health.
Currently active in Japan, Park Yoochun received messages of support from his Japanese fans after the photos were released. Many have commented on it they had watched his latest music video repeatedly and praised his facial expressions and dance performance. Others hoped he got enough rest, they said he looked exhausted and deserved some time to recover.
The update came shortly after a July 6 MyDaily report revealed that Park had submitted an installment payment plan to South Korea’s National Tax Service and began repaying overdue taxes.
The singer reportedly owed a total of ₩409 million in five separate tax cases, including capital gains tax dating back to 2016. Due to the unpaid amount, his name was added to the government’s list of high-profile habitual tax delinquents in 2023. According to the report, if the repayment plan proceeds as expected, the entire debt is expected to be paid off by the end of this year.
Park Yoochun debuted as a member of TVXQ in 2003, serving as one of the group’s rappers during the height of its popularity. In 2010, he left the group along with Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu to form JYJ, before shifting his focus to solo activities during the mid-2010s.
However, his career was overshadowed by multiple controversies. In 2016, he was embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, although prosecutors later dropped criminal charges. Three years later, in 2019, he was convicted of drug-related charges involving methamphetamine use and received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Since then, Park Yoochun has largely distanced himself from the South Korean entertainment industry and has continued to pursue his music career primarily in Japan.
Sources: Daum
