Park Yoo-chun faces backlash over expensive Japanese dinner show promotion

Singer and actor Park Yoo-chun is facing divided reactions in South Korea following a promotional video for his upcoming Osaka dinner show on February 13, 2027, where he appears in a kimono. The controversy follows news that tickets for the event will cost approximately 450,000 won.

Singer and actor Park Yoo-chun is once again at the center of controversy regarding a high-priced dinner show he is hosting in Japan. Attention is intensifying as a promotional video was released showing him greeting fans while wearing a kimono, alongside news of ticket prices reaching approximately 450,000 won. As his consistent participation in Japanese traditional events and his heavy focus on local activities are being re-examined, the South Korean public's perception of the former K-pop star is divided.

Park Yoo-chun will hold the 'PARK YUCHUN Dinner Show 2027' at a hotel in Osaka, Japan, on February 13, 2027. This first dinner show in Osaka will consist of two parts and will accept ticket applications from paid fan club members. While the format includes both a performance and a meal, interest has surged due to the unexpectedly high price revealed.

According to the notice, the ticket price is 52,000 yen, which reaches 53,500 yen when including shipping and fees, equivalent to approximately 450,000 won. Although hotel dinner shows are sometimes priced higher than general concerts, the amount exceeding 50,000 yen has drawn surprised reactions online. The price itself has become a focal point given the significant cost required to attend the performance.

As much as the price, Park Yoo-chun's appearance in the promotional video has also drawn attention. In the video, he appears wearing the kimono, a traditional Japanese garment, and asks fans, "Are you okay?" He also performed friendly gestures toward local fans, such as showing his back to clearly display the obi belt. While this is an active promotional method targeting the Japanese market, it is generating diverse reactions in South Korea in conjunction with his Japanese activities.

This is not the first time Park Yoo-chun has engaged with Japanese traditional culture. In February 2026, he posted photos on social media showing his attendance at 'Senan,' a traditional event at the Takaosan Yakuoin temple located in Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan. Wearing traditional Japanese clothing, he took photos alongside local officials and shared his thoughts on attending the event in Japanese.

In particular, he stated, "It was meaningful to participate in the event again this year," and noted it was a great honor to meet Hidehito Sato, the chief priest of the temple. His active participation in local traditional events and expressing his sentiments in Japanese have been noted as scenes showing his current efforts to expand his field of activity in Japan.

In August, Park Yoo-chun also drew controversy when he released photos of himself sitting in a courtyard wearing a yukata, another traditional Japanese garment. Because the photos were released just five days after Liberation Day, critical reactions poured in from South Korean online communities. Although it was a personal appearance in traditional Japanese attire, the timing of the release and his history of activities in Korea combined to cause discomfort.

To the South Korean public who remembers Park Yoo-chun's past activities in the global K-pop market with TVXQ and JYJ, his current image feels quite unfamiliar. As scenes of him wearing traditional Japanese clothing and communicating with local fans are repeatedly released, his movement toward focusing on Japanese activities is becoming more prominent. Critical reactions such as "He has become completely Japanese" and "Is this not pro-Japanese at this point?" have appeared online.

Of course, the act of wearing traditional Japanese clothing or attending local cultural events cannot be faulted in itself. It is natural for an artist active abroad to respect local culture and communicate with fans. However, because South Korea and Japan share the historical pain of colonial rule, complex emotions act upon the domestic public regarding his public moves related to Japanese traditional culture. The controversy is amplified as the symbolic nature of his past as a beloved K-pop star representing South Korea contrasts with his current image.

The turning point for Park Yoo-chun's image in South Korea was the 2019 philopon (methamphetamine) use incident. At that time, he was indicted on charges of drug use and sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year stay of execution. Although he had declared in a previous press conference that he would retire from the entertainment industry if his drug use was confirmed, he caused great disappointment to the public when the charges were subsequently upheld. The process of reversing his retirement declaration and resuming overseas activities also became a target of criticism.

Since then, Park Yoo-chun has continued fan meetings, performances, and acting activities, primarily centered in Japan, appearing to build his foundation in the overseas market rather than domestically. His activities in Japan are expected to continue, with his appearance in the Japanese drama 'Breakfast in Love' (恋する朝食) scheduled for next year.

The 450,000 won dinner show, the kimono promotional video, and his attendance at Japanese traditional events clearly demonstrate his current direction of focusing on the Japanese market. Between the image he imprinted on the South Korean public as a former K-pop star and his current activities reorganized around Japan, the views regarding him are not converging in a single direction.

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