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 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 supportive messages from his Japanese fans after the photos were posted. Many commented that they had been repeatedly watching his latest music video and praised his facial expressions and dance performance. Others hoped he would get enough rest, saying he looked exhausted and deserved some time to recover.

The update came shortly after a report from MyDaily on July 6 revealed that Park had submitted an installment payment plan to South Korea’s National Tax Service and has begun repaying his overdue taxes.

The singer reportedly owed a total of ₩409 million across five separate tax cases, including capital gains tax dating back to 2016. Because of 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 schedule proceeds as planned, the entire debt is expected to be cleared before 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 alongside Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu to form JYJ, before shifting his focus to solo activities during the mid-2010s.

However, his career has been overshadowed by multiple controversies. In 2016, he became embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, though prosecutors later dropped the criminal charges. Three years later, in 2019, he was convicted on drug-related charges involving methamphetamine use and received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Since then, Park Yoochun has largely stepped away from the South Korean entertainment industry and has continued pursuing his music career primarily in Japan.

Sources: Daum