Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun drops new album amid brother's marijuana scandal

Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun / Korea Times file

By Dong Sun-hwa

Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun has released a new album amid his brother's marijuana scandal.

Yoo-chun, 35, formerly known as Micky Yoochun, put out his self-produced mini album titled, “Da Capo,” on Nov. 5, just two days after the news that Korean police were investigating his brother Yoo-hwan for marijuana use. The actor, 30, is alleged to have of smoked cannabis with two other Koreans at a restaurant in Thailand last December, when he visited the country to make a guest appearance at Yoo-chun's concert. All the suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations.

Yoo-chun, who has remained silent about the investigation, surprised people with his album release, In a message for the album, he wrote, “We sometimes have to close a chapter in our life by having a new beginning… Through the lyrics of my songs, I tried to express my feelings toward the people I am grateful for.”

Fronted by the ballad, “Kiss Your Sky,” the album also offers two more pieces: “Lilac” and “Sunset.” Yoo-chun did not unveil any music video.

Given the timing and a series of scandals in recent years, not everyone is excited about the news. Two years ago, Yoo-chun was convicted of buying and using methamphetamine; before the ruling, he said he would retire from the entertainment industry if he was found guilty ― a promise he did not honor. And the latest news about his brother has added fuel to the fire, with some online users calling them “trouble-making brothers.”

“I just cannot understand why he is putting out an album at this moment,” one internet user commented. “I am just at a loss for words.”

Another wrote, “Yoo-chun may still have some fans, but he should not expect the public to give him support like they did in the past.”

Park debuted as a part of quintet TVXQ in 2004 and enjoyed immense popularity after rolling out a string of hits including, “Mirotic” (2008). Following a legal dispute with the group's management company SM Entertainment, he quit the act in 2010 with two other members ― Kim Jae-joong and Kim Jun-su ― and formed JYJ. But he was later released from his contractual obligations from JYJ after the drug investigation started.