Park Yoo-chun

From 2021, Park disputed the validity and performance of his exclusive contract with his agency, accusing it of mismanagement while the agency accused him of independent activities and having a second contract. An injunction restricted his activities through third parties; subsequent civil decisions involved several hundred million won. In 2026, Park announced that his disputes had ended, which his former agency contested, maintaining that arbitration and certain proceedings remained ongoing.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

In December 2023, the National Tax Service placed Park on its list of persistent major tax debtors for 409 million won relating to five tax assessments dating from 2016. In 2026, his representatives stated that a payment plan was underway and that the balance was expected to be settled within the year.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Personally implicated

After announcing in 2019 that he would leave entertainment if the drug allegations were true, Park resumed organising fan meetings, opening a paid fan club and preparing an album as early as 2020, prompting renewed criticism for failing to honour his promise.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2016, several women accused Park of sexual assault. Police and subsequently prosecutors did not uphold the rape allegations against him. One initial accuser was later convicted in a false accusation and attempted extortion case; another was acquitted of making a false accusation. In 2019, civil proceedings concerning one of the complainants resulted in mediation requiring compensation.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

Park was arrested and prosecuted in 2019 for methamphetamine use, then sentenced to ten months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with probation and confiscation. Before his arrest, he had held a press conference categorically denying the allegations.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

Gangnam district records showed that Park had used 30 days of annual leave, sick leave or early departure out of 124 working days examined during his social service, the highest rate among the personnel compared by the press. The information fuelled controversy over celebrity privileges during compulsory service.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2009, Park Yoo-chun, Kim Jae-joong and Kim Jun-su initiated proceedings against SM Entertainment to suspend their exclusive contracts, which they considered excessively long and unbalanced. The courts granted them a provisional injunction allowing them to operate independently, and the dispute ended in 2012 with an agreement terminating the contracts with effect from 2009.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2012, recordings relating to JYJ's interactions with obsessive fans were released. In the passage attributed to Park, he responds with insults to someone calling him on a private telephone. The incident triggered widespread controversy over the boundaries between harassment of celebrities and artists' conduct.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated