Park Jae-jung Returns After Military Service with New Duet Alongside NMIXX Sullyoon

Singer Park Jae-jung has made a triumphant return to the spotlight following his military discharge, debuting a heartfelt new duet with NMIXX member Sullyoon and sharing candid stories about overcoming vocal cord nodules during his service.

A Soldier Who Traded His Mic for a Trumpet

Appearing as a guest on KBS2 variety show The Seasons: 10cm's Sseudamsseudam on February 27, Park revealed he was discharged on November 20, 2025, after approximately 18 months of military duty. Stationed in the military band as a brass instrument player, Park spent a year and a half playing the trumpet rather than singing, as his unit had no designated vocalist position.

In a lighthearted moment during the broadcast, he demonstrated his trumpet skills on stage, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience and host 10cm, who quipped that discharged soldiers keep flocking to his show.

Battling Vocal Cord Nodules After Discharge

Park was refreshingly honest about the toll his signature hit Let Us Break Up took on his voice. He estimated he performed the demanding ballad roughly 200 out of 365 days during his service, which eventually led to vocal cord nodules and a voice disorder. Determined to return to top form, he spent the three months between his discharge and his TV comeback undergoing intensive treatment at a vocal clinic in Yaksu and training under two vocal coaches.

His hard work paid off, as he shared that he managed to suppress issues like pitch instability and high-note cracking through rigorous daily sessions at hospitals and vocal academies.

New Duet with NMIXX Sullyoon Marks Official Comeback

Park's first official release since leaving the military arrived on February 25 with the duet Just Like This, a collaboration with NMIXX member Sullyoon. The track reunites Park with producer Park Hyun-jung, the creative partner behind his mega-hit Let Us Break Up. Featuring sweeping orchestral arrangements and poignant lyrics about cherishing even the pain of love, the ballad showcases the complementary vocal chemistry between the two artists.

The collaboration was sparked when Sullyoon performed Let Us Break Up five keys higher than the original on KBS Kpop's Limousine Service, impressing Park and leading to this partnership. Notably, Park composed the song himself during a military leave, channeling his longing for the stage into the melody.

A Performance That Left Nothing on the Table

For his Sseudamsseudam appearance, Park went the extra mile by hiring a 10-member choir at his own expense to accompany his live performance of Just Like This. The show also featured a memorable pushup high-note challenge with MC 10cm, during which Park humorously got on his knees pleading for help, bringing the house down with laughter.

The music video for Just Like This, directed by VIXX member Hyuk and starring actors Park Yun-ho and Choi Eui-jin, was pre-released on February 24 ahead of the official audio drop. With his vocal confidence at what he described as 70 percent and climbing, Park Jae-jung appears ready to reclaim his place in the K-pop ballad scene.