Drug Restaurant

The band was formed in Seoul in 2015 by Jung Joon-young, about a year after he had debuted as a solo artist in 2013. It was originally named “Jung Joon Young Band,” reflecting its formation around the frontman. The group released its debut album, Escape to Hangover, on May 27, 2015.

On May 20, 2016, the band changed its name to Drug Restaurant. The name change was intended to shift focus away from the frontman and present the group as a collective unit. According to reporting at the time, the name was meant to evoke a sense of musical “relief,” distinct from the literal connotation of the word “drug.”

The band released a self-titled second album on May 27, 2016 (digital) and June 9, 2016 (physical). Their third album, Pomade, followed on August 4, 2017, notable as their first release with entirely English-language lyrics. The band toured Europe in September 2017 (ten cities, Moscow to Prague) and released the single “Her” on January 1, 2018. A second Europe tour took place in September 2018, alongside a U.S. tour (Chicago to New York City) in October 2018. Their final single, “403,” was released on August 31, 2018.

In March 2019, leader and main vocalist Jung Joon-young was implicated in a criminal investigation connected to the broader “Burning Sun” scandal, after it was revealed he had illegally filmed and shared non-consensual sexual footage of women in private chatrooms with other celebrities. On March 11–13, 2019, Jung announced his retirement from the entertainment industry and his contract with C9 Entertainment was terminated. He was later convicted and served a prison sentence. Following his departure, the remaining members confirmed the band had disbanded.