Park Yoo-chun's appearance in upcoming film challenged by court injunction

Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun, who has been gearing up to return to the big screen in the film "On The Edge," may not be able to do so as the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday rejected Park's request to cancel an injunction blocking him from ..

Actor and singer Park Yoo-chun [YONHAP]

Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun, who has been gearing up to return to the big screen in the film “On The Edge,” may not be able to do so as the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday rejected Park’s request to cancel an injunction blocking him from participating in broadcasting and entertainment activities.

In August, 2021, Park was embroiled in a dispute over a contract with his new agency. Park’s agency at the time, Recielo, said it had signed an exclusive contract with Park in January 2021 and that Park violated the contract by also signing with a Japanese agency. Recielo took the issue to court, and the court ordered Park not to produce, publicize, advertise or engage in entertainment activities with other agencies until a final ruling was reached by the court.

Park thought the ruling was unfair and requested the court to cancel the ruling. On Tuesday, the court rejected Parks request, saying there is no reason to regard the agency’s action as an abuse of rights.

“On The Edge,” which stars Park as a lead actor, is an independent feature film directed by Kim See-woo. It has already won numerous awards at film festivals including Best Leading Performance for Park's role at the Las Vegas Asian Film Awards last year. The film is scheduled to premiere in local theaters next month, but the release now appears uncertain due to the court’s ruling.

Park was sentenced to a 10-month suspended prison term with two years of probation in 2019 for drug abuse. His drug scandal rocked the industry as it also involved his former fiancée who was a scion of a large dairy company.

Park debuted as a member of TVXQ in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In 2009, three members of the boy band including Park filed a lawsuit against the entertainment giant arguing their contracts were unfair. They departed from the label and formed a new boy band in 2010. Park had been working as a band member, actor and solo artist until he was accused of sexual assault in 2016. He was later cleared of the charges.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]