Yoo Seung-jun "Prevention Law Against Me? Am I a Political Prisoner, Rapist, or Murderer?" Anger
Kneeling and Pleading in Tears... Direct Political Criticism After 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Law'
Steve Yoo, who sparked controversy over draft evasion, is venting his frustration through his YouTube channel. Photo by Steve Yoo
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Singer Yoo Seung-jun (44, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) has changed. The image of him shedding tears, kneeling, and pleading for permission to enter Korea is gone, and he has been openly criticizing the political sphere daily through his YouTube channel. He continues to voice harsh criticism through the media reporting on his military service issue. Recently, he once again expressed his frustration, asking, "What is my crime?"
The so-called 'Steve Seung-jun Yoo military service issue' dates back to August 2001. At that time, Yoo, who was enjoying the highest popularity in Korea, underwent surgery for a herniated disc and was classified as grade 4 in the physical examination. Later that month, on the 31st, he was finally assigned as a public service worker.
Given his immense popularity, various entertainment broadcasts at the time aired Yoo's physical examination process in detail, making his enlistment a matter of national interest. Yoo stated on a broadcast, "(Regarding the military service issue) Of course. I have to accept it, and since this is the decision made here, I am trying to comply," showing his active intention regarding his enlistment issue.
In August 2001, Yoo Seung-jun expressing his opinion during a physical examination. Photo by Netv. TV Entertainment Capture
◆ Lengthy Legal Battle... Now Appealing to the Government
However, just before enlistment, Yoo suddenly acquired U.S. citizenship, sparking public outrage. In January 2002, Yoo went through the U.S. citizenship acquisition process at a Los Angeles court and then visited the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles to declare his intention to renounce Korean nationality.
When controversy arose over whether he deliberately evaded military service, Yoo's legal representative at the time emphasized, "Yoo's family immigrated to the U.S. when he was in the first year of middle school, and all held permanent residency. Until the law was amended in 2004, one would lose permanent residency if they joined the military, so Yoo made an unwise choice under his family's advice. There was absolutely no intention to evade military service."
In response, the government representative at the Los Angeles Consulate General countered, "Yoo acquired U.S. citizenship while undergoing the military physical examination and submitted a nationality cancellation report. This is judged to have the purpose of evading military service."
Subsequently, on February 2, 2002, Yoo presented his U.S. passport under the name Steve Seung-jun Yoo at Incheon International Airport, but his entry was denied under Article 11 of the Immigration Control Act by the immigration office.
Meanwhile, Yoo filed an administrative lawsuit in 2015 to enter Korea on an overseas Korean visa. The first and second trials ruled that the government's refusal to issue a visa was lawful. However, in November 2019, the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case, ordering the cancellation of the visa refusal. After the retrial, Yoo won the case at the Supreme Court in March last year.
However, Yoo's hope to enter Korea was once again dashed. Although he won the final lawsuit against the government's visa refusal, the government did not allow his entry based on the Overseas Koreans Act, citing that his entry could harm "the security, order maintenance, and public welfare of the Republic of Korea."
Yoo's side immediately expressed regret. Yoo's legal team stated, "Yoo was merely a popular entertainer 20 years ago, not a terrorist or a conglomerate," emphasizing, "Despite enduring all kinds of criticism and ridicule for the past 18 years, Yoo regrets his past choices." They added, "We want to ask the government whether Yoo's entry would truly threaten the security, order maintenance, or interests of the Republic of Korea."
◆ Shift to Hardline Mode After 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Laws' Proposed: "What Exactly Is My Crime?"
Meanwhile, Yoo once kneeled and apologized on an internet broadcast in May 2015, claiming innocence, but the situation worsened as his sincerity was questioned due to subsequent profanity.
At the end of October last year, Yoo appealed tearfully to Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, saying, "Please reconsider my indefinite entry ban and now allow my entry."
Then, on December 17 last year, when Assemblyman Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party proposed the so-called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Laws,' Yoo responded through his YouTube channel just two days later on the 19th. The tearful Yoo was nowhere to be seen.
He immediately changed his attitude to an aggressive stance, mentioning politicians by name. Yoo criticized the Ministry of Justice, naming former Ministers of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Cho Kuk during the broadcast.
On YouTube, Yoo said, "It doesn't make sense that I cause young people to feel disillusioned," adding, "Honestly, because of the 'emperor leave' of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son and the absurd incidents involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, young people are more angry and disillusioned seeing the corruption and double faces of politicians."
Singer Yoo Seung-jun's video thumbnail, announced on the 31st ahead of a live broadcast on his YouTube channel. A thumbnail refers to an image released in advance before video playback. Photo by singer Yoo Seung-jun's Instagram
Targeting Assemblyman Kim, who proposed the 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Laws,' Yoo said, "Does this bill make sense? Are you kidding? Don't politicians who work with Korean taxpayers' money have anything better to do?" He added, "Am I a political criminal? Did I murder someone? Am I a sex offender?" and expressed outrage, "What exactly are you afraid of that you are making such a fuss to block just one entertainer named Yoo Seung-jun?"
He also claimed that the Moon Jae-in administration was lowering military morale. Yoo said, "My entry was denied because it was feared it would lower military morale," and questioned, "Why does the military exist? Aren't we at war with North Korea now? Isn't our enemy North Korea? Isn't our enemy the North Korean communists?"
On the 31st, Yoo expressed anger again in a video titled 'Why is the Ministry of Justice just watching? The naked truth of the media. The reckless tyranny of thoughtless reporters killing people with their fingers. Clearing all rumors surrounding Yoo Seung-jun.'
In the broadcast, he asked viewers, "The essence of my issue is fairness. I acquired citizenship, but it was considered evading military service, and without a fair legal trial or due process, the government unilaterally intervened to ban one individual's entry for nearly 19 years. Is this fair and just?"
He raised his voice, saying, "Even though there was no illegal act, the government, especially the Ministry of Justice, should apologize and take responsibility for brutally violating and infringing on one person's human rights for such a long time."
Regarding the media, he claimed, "I am exempt from military service, not evading it," and "I am not a special case. Anyone subject to military duty can legally use the return guarantee system to get permission to leave the country." He added, "It is freedom to go anywhere before the enlistment date and is not a violation of the Military Service Act," and "By acquiring U.S. citizenship before the enlistment date, I automatically lost Korean nationality. This also cannot be considered a violation of the Military Service Act."
On the 9th, he again expressed frustration, asking, "Is it fair and just to ban one individual's entry for nearly 19 years?" He continued, "The law must be fair and equal to everyone. The conclusion should not change depending on the subject for any reason. Did I commit a crime that deserves deportation? I did not commit any illegal act. The choice I made was not unlawful. I am exempt from military service, not evading it. What is my crime?"
Regarding controversies over his political stance, he said, "I don't know about left, right, progressive, or conservative. I have no desire to support any particular party or politician," adding, "I am a Christian who believes in and follows God. I will side with any policy direction that aligns with God's will, is good, right, and fair. If what I said leans toward the right, I don't mind being seen as right-wing."
Meanwhile, Yoo's YouTube channel has reportedly seen increases in views and revenue since he began expressing anger toward the government.
According to the YouTube statistics site 'NoxInfluencer,' as of December 19 last year, Yoo Seung-jun's YouTube subscriber count was about 29,000 in November of the previous year. However, after posting videos expressing anger over the so-called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Law,' his subscriber count rose to 70,000. As of January 11, the subscriber count reached 80,000.
Video views also surged. Compared to the previous highest view count of about 180,000 for uploaded videos, the relevant video reached 1.8 million views, a difference of more than tenfold.
Although there may be discrepancies between statistics sites and actual revenue, YouTube earnings appear to have surged. Previously, Yoo's channel income was only about 10,000 KRW per day on average. However, after the video was released on the 19th of last month, estimated earnings ranged from 1,505,600 KRW to 4,662,000 KRW on the 20th, and from 1,468,000 KRW to 4,543,800 KRW on the 21st. Another analysis site, 'Social Blade,' estimated Yoo Seung-jun's YouTube channel income on the 20th of last month to be between $298 (approximately 330,660 KRW) and $4,800 (approximately 5,325,120 KRW).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
