South Korean-American singer and actor (born 1976)
Musical artist
Steve Sueng Jun Yoo
[1]
(born December 15, 1976),
[2]
also known as his
Korean
name
Yoo Seung-jun
(
Korean
:
劉承俊
),
[3]
is a South Korean-born American singer, dancer, rapper and actor who became one of South Korea's most popular
K-pop
stars after his debut in 1997.
[4]
Yoo's music career ended in 2002 when he was accused of evading
South Korean mandatory military service
by becoming a U.S. citizen.
[5]
He was subsequently banned from entering South Korea, becoming the only person in history to be banned from the country for acquiring another citizenship.
[6]
Since then, Yoo worked as an actor in
China
.
[7]
In acting, 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
. He and his family immigrated to the United States when he was thirteen and settled in
Buena Park, California
. Yoo 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.
Career
[
edit
]
1997: Debut
[
edit
]
Yoo made his South Korean debut as a singer in 1997. His first album
West Side
was a hit with the debut single "Gawi" ("gawi" or "가위" is the Korean word for "scissors" - in this context it translates to "nightmare" as South Koreans use the word to describe the rigid sleep paralysis which sometimes accompanies bad dreams). 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.
1998
[
edit
]
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.
1999
[
edit
]
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."
2000
[
edit
]
During this time, 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.
2001
[
edit
]
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: Banishment from Korea
[
edit
]
Yoo had repeatedly stated on television that he would fulfill his
mandatory military service
. But in 2002, just before he was to be drafted, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. As a result, the
South Korean government
considered it an act of desertion, and deported him, permanently banning him from entering the country.
[6]
Post-banishment
[
edit
]
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 two days.
[8]
In 2006, he was featured on rapper
H-Eugene
's song "獨不將軍" (English:
"Single Person"
). The song's music video does not show Yoo's face, but shows him dancing and his silhouette.
In 2007, he released his seventh album
Yoo Seungjun Vol. 7 - Rebirth of YSJ
for his fans who stood by him through the highs and lows of his career. The album was produced under the collaboration of production teams from the United States, China, and South Korea.
[9]
He released singles such as "Missing U," "Breakin' Love," "One For Me" and "Fireworks."
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.
[10]
In February 2010, Yoo made his film debut in
Jackie Chan
's
Little Big Soldier
as Prince Wen.
[11]
Also that year, he released music videos in Korean and Chinese for his unofficial single "My World".
[
citation needed
]
In 2015, it was announced that Yoo would appear in the film
Dragon Blade
.
[
citation needed
]
In 2019, he released two singles in Korean, "Another Day" and "People Don’t Know" with music videos for both songs.
[
citation needed
]
In 2022, Yoo was enrolled as a student in
Westminster Seminary California
.
[
citation needed
]
Personal life
[
edit
]
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.
[12]
In December 2013, rumors had it that the ban on Yoo had been lifted and that he could enter South Korea. In January 2014, however, South Korea's Military Manpower Association released a statement denying the allegation.
[13]
On May 19, 2015, Yoo appeared in a video where he opened up on his side of the story regarding his evading military service back in 2002. He appeared getting down on his hands and knees begging to be accepted back into South Korea, promising that he would "do whatever it takes" and that he would accept any condition the South Korean government imposed.
[14]
On 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.
[15]
[16]
On July 11, 2019, the South Korean Supreme Court sent Yoo's previously closed case back to the Seoul High Court.
[17]
[18]
[19]
On November 15, 2019, an appeals court reversed its earlier decision and ruled in favor of Yoo, which allowed him to visit South Korea.
[20]
After his banishment from South Korea in 2002, Yoo made his residence in
Beijing
, China. Soon after, he moved back to the U.S. to live in
Los Angeles County, California
. Yoo married Christine Oh in 2004, with whom he has 4 children. In October 2019, Yoo launched his
YouTube
channel, where he posted videos of his daily workout routine.
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.
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
[
edit
]
Extended plays
[
edit
]
Compilations and live albums
[
edit
]
- 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 Liv
e (2002)
Filmography
[
edit
]
Movies
[
edit
]
Television
[
edit
]
Awards and nominations
[
edit
]
Year
|
Category
|
Work
|
Result
|
1997
|
Bonsang (Best Artist)
|
Yoo Seung-jun
|
Won
|
1999
|
Won
|
2000
|
Won
|
Year
|
Category
|
Work
|
Result
|
2000
|
Bonsang (Main Prize)
|
Yoo Seung-jun
|
Won
|
2001
|
Won
|
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Heo, Yeop (2002-02-03).
"[放送]空港서 쫓겨난 劉承俊 "非難 監修"
"
.
The Dong-a Ilbo
. South Korea
. Retrieved
2020-12-19
.
- ^
Cho, Jin-hyung (February 13, 2017).
"Fighting to be able to return home : After enlistment scandal, Steve Yoo is battling to come back to Korea"
.
Korea JoongAng Daily
. South Korea
. Retrieved
2018-09-24
.
- ^
"유승준 紹介"
[Yoo Seung-jun Profile].
Mnet
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2018-09-24
. Retrieved
2017-12-25
.
- ^
Lee, Sun-young; Yoon, Sarah (2015-05-20).
"[Newsmaker] Steve Yoo asks to be taken back"
.
The Korea Herald
. Retrieved
2018-09-24
.
- ^
Sung, So-young (November 19, 2015).
"Steve Yoo sues over Korea visa rejection"
.
Korea JoongAng Daily
. South Korea
. Retrieved
2017-12-25
.
- ^
a
b
"Singer Yoo Seung-jun protests lifetime entry ban"
.
Yonhap News Agency
. 2015-11-18
. Retrieved
2017-12-25
.
- ^
Yang, Eun-kyoung (2017-02-24).
"Korean-American Singer Stays Barred Over Draft Dodging"
.
The Chosun Ilbo
. Retrieved
2017-12-25
.
- ^
https://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2003/nwdesk/article/1905799_30767.html
- ^
Yoo Seungjun Vol. 7 - Rebirth of YSJ
album info
Archived
November 10, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine
Yesasia
.
- ^
Bae Guk-nam (배국남).
"Why is the public still mad at Yoo Seung-jun?(유승준에 왜 大衆은 如前히 憤怒할까?)"
(in Korean). MyDaily. Archived from
the original
on 2009-06-20.
- ^
Young, Al
"Jackie Chan + Three Guys + Horse = BIG SOLDIER"
Archived
August 20, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
Twitch Film
. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-08
- ^
Seo, Ji-eun
"Steve Yoo isn't coming back to Korea"
[usurped]
Joongang Daily
. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-08
- ^
Military Denies Report that Yoo Seung Jun's Ban from Korea Will Be Lifted
Archived
March 4, 2016, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
"Yoo Seung Joon gets on hands and knees to apologize for evading military service"
Archived
October 2, 2016, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
"Why a K-Pop Legend is No Longer Allowed Back in South Korea"
"Nextshark".
Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^
"Yoo Seung Joon loses second trial, forbidden to enter Korea"
"AllKPop.com". Retrieved October 25, 2017
- ^
“Entry ban on Korean American singer illegal: top court”
“The Korea Herald”. Retrieved July 11, 2019
- ^
“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
- ^
“Supreme Court rules against entry ban for Korean-American singer”
“Yonhap News Agency”. Retrieved July 11, 2019
- ^
"Court rules in favor of singer banned from visiting S. Korea"
. South Korea:
Yonhap News Agency
. November 2019.
- ^
劉承俊, 跆拳道 練習 中 "몇 段이게요?"
- ^
a
b
"K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2018-04-18
. Retrieved
2018-04-25
.
- ^
"98年 國內 音盤市場 決算"
.
Imaeil
(in Korean). 1998. Archived from
the original
on 2015-02-06
. Retrieved
2018-04-24
.
- ^
"March-August 1998 Cumulative K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2001-09-23
. Retrieved
2018-04-24
.
- ^
"August 1999 K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2016-10-12
. Retrieved
2018-04-23
.
- ^
"March 2000 K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2017-10-08
. Retrieved
2018-04-23
.
- ^
"March 2001 K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2017-10-08
. Retrieved
2018-04-23
.
- ^
"October 2001 K-Pop Album Sales Volume"
.
Recording Industry Association of Korea
(in Korean). Archived from
the original
on 2018-04-25
. Retrieved
2018-04-23
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|
|
---|
1990s
| 1990
| |
---|
1991
| |
---|
1992
| |
---|
1993
| |
---|
1994
| |
---|
1995
| |
---|
1996
| |
---|
1997
| |
---|
1998
| |
---|
1999
| |
---|
|
---|
2000s
| 2000
| |
---|
2001
| |
---|
2002
| |
---|
2003
| |
---|
2004
| |
---|
2006
| |
---|
2007
| |
---|
2008
| |
---|
2009
| |
---|
|
---|
2010s
| 2010
| |
---|
2011
| |
---|
2012
| |
---|
2013
| |
---|
2014
| |
---|
2015
| |
---|
2016
| |
---|
2017
| |
---|
2018
| |
---|
2019
| |
---|
|
---|
2020s
| |
---|