K-Pop Star Lizzy Makes Heartfelt Comeback After DUI Hiatus with Tokyo Fan Meeting

Former After School member and actress Lizzy has stepped back into the spotlight, holding her first solo fan meetings in Tokyo, Japan, on June 17 and 18. This marks her first official public appearance since stepping away from her career four years ago following a DUI incident.

Lizzy, whose real name is Park Soo-young, approached this comeback cautiously but sincerely, expressing deep gratitude to her fans throughout the intimate events. The fan meetings brought supporters from across the globe — including Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, and Indonesia — all coming together to support Lizzy’s return to the stage.

On Instagram, Lizzy emotionally shared, “I’ve truly missed all of you. Every moment I got to look into your eyes, sing, dance, and talk with you brought immense happiness.” She also acknowledged the turmoil behind her hiatus, admitting, “I wondered if I would ever stand on stage again. I blamed myself and cut ties with the world during that time, but I also gained many lessons and insights.”

She continued, “Thanks to you, I’ve remembered what it feels like to be alive. You are the driving force of my life.” Her heartfelt message moved many fans to tears, and during the fan meetings, Lizzy was visibly emotional when receiving letters and gifts from attendees.

Though she had been away from the public eye since the 2021 DUI incident—when she was sentenced to a fine and gave a tearful apology via Instagram Live—Lizzy appeared as cheerful and confident as ever on stage. In her own words, “Thank you for letting me stand here again.”

This fan meeting wasn’t just a performance; it was a symbolic rebirth. For Lizzy, it signaled a new beginning as a more mature artist and person. Surrounded by applause that felt more like encouragement than excitement and tears that came from gratitude rather than regret, Lizzy began her next chapter.

With a promise to move forward — slowly, but earnestly — Lizzy ended her performance with a heartfelt “Let’s meet again.”