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Yoo Seung-jun

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In this Korean name, the family name is Yoo.
Yoo Seung-jun
Yoo on January 31, 2002
Born (1976-12-15) December 15, 1976 (age 47)
Other names
  • Yoo Sueng-jun
  • Steve Sueng Jun Yoo
  • Steve Yoo
Citizenship
  • South Korea
    (1976–2002)
  • United States
    (2002–present)
Musical career
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active1997–present
Websitehttps://www.youtube.com/@YooSeungJunOFFICIAL
Korean name
Hangul
유승준
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYu Seungjun
McCune–ReischauerYu Sŭngjun

Steve Sueng Jun Yoo[1] (born Yoo Seung-jun[2] on December 15, 1976),[3] is an American singer, rapper and actor of South Korean origin. He debuted in South Korea in 1997 with the song "Gawi" and became one of the country's most popular K-pop stars at the time.[4] Within the first five years of his career, Yoo had sold more than 5 million records.[5]

Yoo's career in South Korea ended in 2002 when he was accused of evading South Korean mandatory military service by becoming a U.S. citizen.[6] He was subsequently banned from entering South Korea, becoming the only person in history to be banned from the country for acquiring another citizenship.[7]

Since his banishment from South Korea, Yoo worked as an actor in China.[8] He is best known for his roles as Jin Wuzhu in 2013 historical TV series The Patriot Yue Fei and Prince Wen in 2010 film Little Big Soldier.

Early life

[edit]

Yoo was born on December 15, 1976, in Seoul, South Korea.[9] He and his family immigrated to the United States when he was thirteen and settled in Buena Park, California.[10] Yoo led a troubled life during his teen years until he joined the church choir, where he found a passion for singing.[9] He made demo tapes of his rapping and dance skills and sent these to Brothers Entertainment, where he was eventually scouted and left California to start his career as a singer.[9]

Career

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1997–2002: Debut and early music career

[edit]

Yoo made his South Korean debut as a singer in 1997.[11] His first album West Side was a hit with the debut single "Gawi."[11] Along with another single "I Love You, Noona," he won "Best Newcomer of the Year" at many award ceremonies. Yoo gained popularity with his signature dance move "Gawi," in which he and his backup dancers lined up diagonally to perform the same moves in unison. "West Side" sold a million copies.

In the summer of 1998, he released his second album 1998 V2 for SALE with "Na Na Na" ("나나나") as its lead song, where it and the music video topped the charts. In the video, it featured actress Choi Ji-woo, who played as the internship teacher while he played as the troublesome student. Many consider this album as the most successful of his career, as it won him Best Artist of the Year in multiple award ceremonies. The album again sold 1 million records. In 1999, he went on to release his third album Now Or Never, which contained the hit single "Passion". Later that year, Yoo released his fourth album, "Over and Over," which contained the hit single "Vision."

In 2000, he began to expand his career into China and Taiwan, with the release of the single "Can't Wait", which was a collaboration with Taiwanese singer Yuki. Now or Never topped the South Korean charts with first week sales of 879,000 albums sold. Setting a record for the highest first week sales ever at the time. The album eventually sold close to 1.5 million units. He also released music videos for two of his Korean songs that year for "찾길 바래" (English: "Wish you could find") & "어제 오늘 그리고" (English: "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow"), the latter showing off a more sophisticated image.

In 2001, he released the single "Wow" from his sixth album "Infinity." Though considered a disappointment critically and commercially compared to his last three albums, "Infinity" still debuted at No. 1 on the charts with first-week sales of 359,961 units. The album went to achieve sales of over 600,000.

2002–present: Overseas career

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In 2006, he was featured on rapper H-Eugene's song "독불장군" (English: "Single Person"). The song's music video does not show Yoo's face, but shows him dancing and his silhouette.

In August 2007, Yoo released the single "My World" in China.[12] On September 18, 2007, he released his seventh album Rebirth of YSJ as a "special release" for his fans, with proceeds of the album donated to charity.[13][14] The album was produced under the collaboration of production teams from the United States, China, and South Korea.[14] He also released the single "You and Me" in China.[15] Yoo appeared on the cover of the October 2007 issue of Men's Health China, where he was the first Korean male to be featured on the cover of the Chinese edition.[15] He earned a role in an untitled Taiwanese drama loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel Less than Zero.

In June 2008, Yoo signed a 15-year contract with Jackie Chan's entertainment management company to become an actor. He has since attempted to establish a name for himself in mainland China while continuing his singing and acting career.[16] In February 2010, Yoo made his film debut in Jackie Chan's Little Big Soldier as Prince Wen.[17]

In 2015, it was announced that Yoo would appear in the film Dragon Blade.[citation needed]

On November 21, 2018, Yoo attempted to make a comeback in the Korean entertainment industry with a 5-track extended play album titled Another Day originally set for release on December 5, with the pre-release title song "Another Day" and accompanying music video set to release on November 22.[18][19] Yoo's label deleted the teaser and canceled the album after public outrage.[18] Another label who Yoo had contact with also declined to distribute the album.[19] On January 18, 2019, Yoo was able to release Another Day on streaming services such as Melon and Naver Music.[20]

In 2022, Yoo was enrolled as a student in Westminster Seminary California.[citation needed]

Personal life

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After his banishment from South Korea in 2002, Yoo made his residence in Beijing, China.[3] Soon after, he moved back to the U.S. to live in Los Angeles County, California. Yoo married Christine Oh in 2004,[9] with whom he has 4 children. In October 2019, Yoo launched his YouTube channel, where he posted videos of his daily workout routine.

While Yoo was in South Korea, he attended Kaywon School of Art and Design as a multimedia major.[9] He then majored in business at Cerritos College and theology at Bethesda University.[9]

Yoo was a practitioner of Taekwondo[21] during the height of his celebrity days. He featured his skills on Korean TV shows of the time. In 2010, when he was invited as a guest on the show Asia Uncut, he stated he (at the time of filming) held a 3rd Dan black belt.

Banishment from South Korea

[edit]

Yoo had repeatedly stated on television that he would fulfill his mandatory military service.[11] During his physical examination in August 2001, Yoo was given a grade 4 rank, the lowest passing rank to enter the military, due to having a surgery for a herniated disc that resulted from a music video shoot for his fifth album.[10][11] Although he was scheduled to enlist in the military by the end of 2001, he had his enlistment date postponed by three months in order to perform at a concert in Japan and to visit the United States.[10][11] While he was in Los Angeles, California, in January 2002, he gave up his citizenship in South Korea in order to obtain citizenship in the United States as a naturalized citizen, thereby becoming exempt from military service.[11][5] In 2015, Yoo stated that his father had submitted an application for citizenship in the United States without his knowledge, and that he had been persuaded to go through with it because his family was living there and out of concern that citizenship might become harder to obtain due to the September 11 attacks.[10][22] In addition, he was also concerned that being inactive for two years could cause his talent agency to shut down, as he was the highest-earning artist at the agency at the time.[10][5] Furthermore, he stated that the media had "twisted his words" about agreeing to join the military, and that he was pressured by both his talent agency and the media to follow through with enlisting.[10]

As a result of Yoo relinquishing his Korean citizenship, the South Korean government considered it an act of desertion and deported him, permanently banning him from entering the country.[7][11] He is the only person to be banned from South Korea for obtaining another citizenship.[7] Yoo had attempted to return to South Korea in February 2002 to resume his activities and to hold a press conference regarding his citizenship, but he was banned from entering the Incheon International Airport.[11][10] In 2003, his father-in-law, who resided in South Korea, died. South Korea's Ministry of Justice allowed Yoo temporary entry into South Korea for three days.[23] In 2011, in response to an announcement by South Korean television network Seoul Broadcasting System on holding a public poll on whether South Koreans thought Yoo should be allowed to come back to South Korea, he said he had no plan to return.[24]

On May 19, 2015, Yoo held a live stream through AfreecaTV apologizing to the Korean public and addressing his reasons for pursuing citizenship in the United States.[4][5][10][22][25] He promised to complete his military service, but, by that time, he was 39 years old (in Korean years) and had passed the age limit for being able to serve.[5][25] He held a second live stream addressing the feedback on May 27, 2015.[25] Both live streams were received poorly by the public, particularly the second live stream, which had ended in a man's voice cursing when the microphone failed to disconnect.[25] AfreecaTV issued an apology to the viewers, stating that the cursing was "intended for the staff."[25]

In response to Koreans renouncing their citizenship to avoid military service, in 2016, the Military Manpower Administration introduced the Steve Yoo Law, which required Koreans with dual citizenship to enlist in the military.[26] In 2020, Mo Jung-hwa, the chief of the Military Manpower Administration, stated that Yoo appearing on South Korean broadcasts as a figure in the entertainment industry would create a "risk of lowering the morale" of South Korean citizens performing military service and affect their "willingness" to fulfill their duties.[11][27] Kim Byung-joo, a politician from the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed the Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Act, which would ban people who had given up their South Korean citizenship before fulfilling their military service from entering South Korea.[28] Yoo responded and criticized this on his YouTube channel.[28]

Lawsuits

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In September 2015, Yoo applied for a Korean F-4 visa as an overseas Korean through the Consulate General of Los Angeles, which would allow him to work and live in South Korea, but his application was rejected.[11][29][30] Yoo then filed a lawsuit disputing the rejection in October of the same year.[7][11] In September 2016, the case was overruled and Yoo lost the lawsuit.[11][31] He submitted an appeal in October 2016.[11] In February 23, 2017, following a court hearing, Yoo lost his second and final appeal for having his entry ban lifted, and was no longer allowed to return to South Korea, nor would he be able to appeal his entry ban in the future.[32][33][better source needed] On July 11, 2019, the South Korean Supreme Court sent Yoo's previously closed case back to the Seoul High Court.[34][35][36] On November 15, 2019, an appeals court reversed its earlier decision and ruled in favor of Yoo.[37][38]

Following this, Yoo attempted to apply for a visa again, but the Consulate General of Los Angeles again rejected the application on July 2, 2019, causing him to file a second lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court in October 2020.[39][40] On April 28, 2022, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled against Yoo, stating that the previous ruling was due to "procedural flaws."[40] Yoo again appealed the decision, with the first hearing on September 22, 2022.[41] On July 13, 2023, the Seoul High Court overturned the Seoul Administrative Court ruling.[42] On November 30, 2023, the Seoul High Court ruled in favor of Yoo, stating that there was "no just cause" to deny him a visa.[29] However, the court ruling was separate from the South Korean government's ban, and Yoo attaining a visa did not indicate he would be allowed back into the country.[29][43] In September 2024, Yoo's request for a visa was denied for a third time.[44]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[45]
West Side —*
For Sale
  • Released: April 29, 1998
  • Label: Best Media
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 2
Now Or Never
  • Released: April 15, 1999
  • Label: Baeksan Media
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 1
Over And Over 1
Summit Revival
  • Released: November 24, 2000
  • Label: West Side Media
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 3
Infinity
  • Released: August 31, 2001
  • Label: West Side Media
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 2
Rebirth of YSJ — —
*Chart positions not available prior to 1998
"—" denotes album did not chart.

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[45]
Another Day — —

Compilations and live albums

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  • 98 Live Album (1998)
  • New Release + English Version (1999)
  • All That Yoo Seung Jun (1999)
  • Gold Techno Remix (2000)
  • Hidden Story (2001)
  • Best & J Duet Collection (2001)
  • Yoo Seung Jun 2002 Live (2002)

Filmography

[edit]

Movies

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Television

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Awards and nominations

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Golden Disc Awards

[edit]
Year Category Work Result
1997 Bonsang (Best Artist) Yoo Seung-jun Won
1999 Won
2000 Won

Mnet Asian Music Awards

[edit]
Year Category Work Result
1999 Best Male Artist "Passion" (열정) Nominated
2000 Best Dance Performance "Vision" (비전) Nominated
2001 Best Dance Performance "Wow" Won
Best Male Artist Nominated

Seoul Music Awards

[edit]
Year Category Work Result
2000 Bonsang (Main Prize) Yoo Seung-jun Won
2001 Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Heo, Yeop (February 3, 2002). "[방송]공항서 쫓겨난 유승준 "비난 감수"". The Dong-a Ilbo. South Korea. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "유승준 소개" [Yoo Seung-jun Profile]. Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Cho, Jin-hyung (February 12, 2017). "Fighting to be able to return home : After enlistment scandal, Steve Yoo is battling to come back to Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Lee, Sun-young; Yoon, Sarah (May 20, 2015). "[Newsmaker] Steve Yoo asks to be taken back". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Kim, Jae-heun (May 20, 2015). "Apology 13 years too late". Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Sung, So-young (November 19, 2015). "Steve Yoo sues over Korea visa rejection". Korea JoongAng Daily. South Korea. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d "Singer Yoo Seung-jun protests lifetime entry ban". Yonhap News Agency. November 18, 2015. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  8. ^ Yang, Eun-kyoung (February 24, 2017). "Korean-American Singer Stays Barred Over Draft Dodging". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Yoo Seung-jun". Korean Broadcasting System. August 25, 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Yoon, Sarah (May 20, 2015). "Transcript of Yoo Seung-jun's interview about military exile". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kwon, Seon-mi (January 23, 2024). "유승준, 재판 이겼지만 한국 못온다?…21년간 막아온 법무부 선택은 [저격]" [Yoo Seung-jun, unable to come to Korea despite winning the trial?... The Ministry of Justice's choice that has blocked for him 21 years]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "在线试听：刘承俊--《重回我世界》" [Online listening: Yoo Seung-jun: "My World"]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). August 28, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Jiang, En-zhen (September 18, 2007). "刘承俊时隔6年韩国出新碟 韩网民反应冷淡(图)" [Yoo Seung-jun to release new album after 6 years, Korean netizens react coldly]. MyDaily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024 – via Sina Corporation.
  14. ^ a b "专辑：刘承俊--《Rebirth Of YSJ》" [Album: Yoo Seung-jun: Rebirth Of YSJ]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). September 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "组图：韩舞王刘承俊半裸拍封面 自曝儿子已一岁" [Photo: Korean dance king Yoo Seung-jun poses half-naked on cover, reveals his son is 1 year old]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). October 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Bae Guk-nam (배국남). "Why is the public still mad at Yoo Seung-jun?(유승준에 왜 대중은 여전히 분노할까?)" (in Korean). MyDaily. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009.
  17. ^ "Steve Yoo film set for local release". Korea Herald. March 30, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Lee, Min-young (November 27, 2018). "Yoo Seung-jun's comeback scrapped amid public outrage". Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Kim, Saet-byeol (November 22, 2018). "유승준, 컴백 무산 위기? 믿음 배신한 결과 [종합]" [Yoo Seung-jun, on the verge of failing to make a comeback? Consequences of betraying trust (Deep Dive)]. Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024 – via Naver.
  20. ^ Yoon, So-yeon (January 18, 2019). "Steve Yoo drops first album in years". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "유승준, 태권도 연습 중 "몇 단이게요?"". May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Yoon, Sarah (May 20, 2015). "Yoo Seung-jun appeals to Korea to lift exile, vows to 'do whatever it takes'". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Kim, Pil-gook (June 26, 2003). "가수 유승준 새벽 인천공항 입국, 일시 입국 허용 찬반 논란[김필국]" [Singer Yoo Seung-jun enters Incheon Airport at dawn, controversy over temporary entry [Kim Pil-gook]]. Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Seo, Ji-eun (October 20, 2011). "Steve Yoo isn't coming back to Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  25. ^ a b c d e Yoon, Sarah (May 27, 2015). "Steve Yoo holds second live interview, possibly heard swearing off-camera". Kpop Herald. Archived from the original on July 28, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "'Steve Yoo Law' takes aim at military avoiders". Korea Times. April 11, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "Entry ban on Korean American singer Steve Yoo should be in place: military manpower agency chief". The Korea Herald. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Jun, Ji-hye (December 20, 2020). ""Young people enraged by Choo Mi-ae, Cho Kuk, not me"". Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Park, Jun-hee (November 30, 2023). "Disgraced Korean-American singer wins suit over visa denial". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  30. ^ Jung, Hae-myoung (December 19, 2019). "K-pop in 2019: Scandals taint YG, trot is revived". Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  31. ^ Kim, Rahn (September 30, 2016). "Draft-dodging singer Yoo loses visa suit". Korea Times. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  32. ^ "Why a K-Pop Legend is No Longer Allowed Back in South Korea" Archived 2024-08-07 at the Wayback Machine "Nextshark". Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  33. ^ "Yoo Seung Joon loses second trial, forbidden to enter Korea" Archived 2017-10-26 at the Wayback Machine "AllKPop.com". Retrieved October 25, 2017
  34. ^ Ock, Hyun-ju (July 11, 2019). "Entry ban on Korean American singer illegal: top court". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  35. ^ “K-pop star who avoided draft may be allowed to return home” Archived 2021-06-04 at the Wayback Machine “Channel News Asia”. Retrieved July 11, 2019
  36. ^ “Supreme Court rules against entry ban for Korean-American singer” Archived 2022-12-05 at the Wayback Machine “Yonhap News Agency”. Retrieved July 11, 2019
  37. ^ "Court rules in favor of singer banned from visiting S. Korea". South Korea: Yonhap News Agency. November 2019. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  38. ^ "Court rules against entry ban on Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun". KBS World Radio. November 18, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  39. ^ Park, Tae-in; Kim, Sarah (October 7, 2020). "Again denied entry visa, Steve Yoo sues Korean gov't". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  40. ^ a b "Court rules in favor of visa refusal for Korean-American singer Steve Yoo". Korea Times. April 28, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  41. ^ Yang, Haley (June 20, 2022). "Steve Yoo's case to be heard on appeal from September 22". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  42. ^ "Appellate Court Rules for Korean American Singer Denied Visa". KBS World Radio. July 13, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  43. ^ Shin, Min-hee (April 2, 2024). "Steve Yoo speaks out on 22 years away from Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  44. ^ Lim, Jae-seong (September 29, 2024). "'Korea crossed the line too far' disgraced singer's lawyer cries foul after 3rd visa denial". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  45. ^ a b "K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  46. ^ "98년 국내 음반시장 결산". Imaeil (in Korean). 1998. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  47. ^ "March-August 1998 Cumulative K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2001. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  48. ^ "August 1999 K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  49. ^ "March 2000 K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  50. ^ "March 2001 K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  51. ^ "October 2001 K-Pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
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