[Comprehensive] "What is President Moon doing?" 'Military Service Evasion' Controversy Surrounding Yoo Seung-jun Sparks Outrage... Public Opinion Remains Cold

Assemblyman Kim Byung-joo Proposes So-Called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Act'
Yoo Seung-jun Says "This Bill Is Nonsense"
Mistakenly Refers to 'Hyo-soon and Mi-sun Incident' as 'Hyo-jin and Mi-jin Incident'

Steve Yoo, who sparked controversy over draft evasion, is venting his frustration through his YouTube channel. Photo by Steve Yoo

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Steve Yoo (stage name Yoo Seung-jun, a Korean singer active in the 1990s), whose entry into South Korea has been blocked due to controversy over evading military service, expressed his frustration by posting a critical video claiming that blocking his entry is political agitation after the so-called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Act' was proposed. Despite Yoo's stance, most public opinion remains negative.

Yoo Seung-jun, who gained popularity as a singer in South Korea during the 1990s, acquired U.S. citizenship in 2002 before his mandatory military enlistment, thereby avoiding military service and sparking public outrage. Subsequently, the government banned Yoo's entry and refused to issue him a visa.

On the 19th, Yoo Seung-jun uploaded a video of about 40 minutes on his YouTube channel titled "The Proposed Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Acts? Congressman Kim Byung-joo, are you joking now? Here is a word I have held back until now, starting now."

In the video, Yoo said, "Am I a political prisoner? An enemy of the public? Am I a rapist? Have I murdered anyone? Am I a child sex offender?" He continued, "Who is so scared that an entire country is making such a fuss to block a single entertainer named Yoo Seung-jun from entering Korea? Don't politicians have anything better to do?" expressing his anger.

Earlier, on the 17th, Kim Byung-joo, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed the so-called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Acts' (Nationality Act, Immigration Control Act, Overseas Koreans Act, National Public Officials Act, Local Public Officials Act) to restrict the entry of those evading military service by changing nationality.

Photo by Steve Yoo, screenshot from YouTube channel video

Yoo Seung-jun further said, "I can't understand it. I supposedly make young people feel disillusioned? Is that even a valid argument?" He added, "Honestly, isn't it because young people are even more angry and disillusioned seeing the corruption and double standards of politicians handling national affairs, such as Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son's 'emperor leave' and the absurd incidents involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk?"

In the video, Yoo also made a slip by referring to the so-called 'Hyo-sun and Mi-sun incident' in 2002, where two middle school girls were killed by a U.S. military armored vehicle while walking on a road without sidewalks, as the 'Hyo-jin and Mi-jin incident.'

Yoo also voiced criticism of President Moon Jae-in. He said, "What is our current president doing? Meeting Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom, holding hands, shaking hands, and hugging. Isn't the morale of our military dropping because of that?" Continuing his political remarks, he said, "From the Hyo-jin and Mi-jin incident, stirring up ethnic sentiments to incite anti-American feelings, to the Sewol ferry disaster, using heartbreaking tragedies to incite many people, leading candlelight protests and claiming to have achieved a revolution? Is that a revolution? It's a coup without bloodshed."

Photo by Kim Byung-joo, captured from the Facebook post of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

Most netizens who watched Yoo's video responded with opinions such as "Excuses and justifications only worsen the situation," "Misnaming the incident is disrespectful and shows a lack of interest in Korea," and "Nothing will change." Some defended Yoo with comments like "It seems especially harsh only on Yoo Seung-jun," and "He hasn't done well, but is this crime that serious?"

Meanwhile, Kim Byung-joo, who proposed the 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Military Service Act,' wrote on his Facebook on the 20th, "I heard that Steve Yoo posted a passionate video criticizing the law I proposed," adding, "What is regrettable is that Steve Yoo still does not properly understand the essence of this issue."

Photo by Steve Yoo, screenshot from YouTube channel video

Kim also stated, "Failing to fulfill the duty of military service is not breaking a promise to fans but violating the Constitution of the Republic of Korea," and explained, "This bill was not created solely to target Steve Yoo but was proposed to provide institutional support for the fairness of military service obligations," expressing hope for the prompt passage of the bill.

Composer Kim Hyung-seok also posted on his social media on the same day a message seemingly directed at a person presumed to be Yoo Seung-jun, saying, "I thought it was unfortunate because you sang my songs and we were connected like siblings. Now I see I was wrong. You reap what you sow. Live well." Kim Hyung-seok composed songs such as "Na Na Na" and "Sad Silence," which Yoo Seung-jun sang in 1998.

The controversy over Yoo Seung-jun's entry ban has also consistently appeared on the Blue House's (Cheong Wa Dae) National Petition Board.

In July last year, when the Supreme Court ruled that the visa refusal against Yoo Seung-jun was illegal, a petition titled "Please ban Yoo Seung-jun's entry again" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. That petition gained over 200,000 signatures within five days of posting, and since then, more than five petitions opposing Yoo's entry have been posted, continuing the stance against his entry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.