Controversy Over 'Delivery Worker Derogatory Comments' Spreads... Yoo Seung-jun "I Did Not Write It"

Singer Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo) has announced legal action amid controversy over allegations that he wrote malicious comments disparaging delivery workers in the past. On the 10th, Yoo Seung-jun posted several photos on his social media (SNS) along with the message, "This is not me!" The released photos included real-time chat from news about delivery riders who declared a strike ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup match against Korea.

[Image source=Captured from Yoo Seung-jun's YouTube channel]

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Among these was a comment apparently posted from Yoo Seung-jun’s official YouTube channel, 'Yoo Seung Jun Official YOO Seung Jun OFFICIAL.' The comment read, "If you can’t study and have nothing, you should just be a ddal-bae." This sparked allegations that Yoo was disparaging delivery workers. Some netizens criticized him, saying, "Is this something a draft dodger should say?" On the other hand, some suspected impersonation, commenting, "Yoo Seung-jun probably doesn’t even know the term 'ddal-bae'." The term ddal-bae is a reversed pronunciation of 'baedal' (delivery) and is commonly used to disparage delivery workers.

[Image source=Captured from Yoo Seung-jun's SNS]

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According to Yoo Seung-jun, the comment was posted by an impersonating user. Yoo expressed, "It seems someone used a fake ID to post strange comments. Shouldn’t you verify the facts before writing articles? This is really absurd." He added, "I will take legal action after investigating the details regarding those who spread false information or impersonate me to post malicious comments."

Yoo Seung-jun debuted in April 1997 but lost his Korean nationality after acquiring U.S. citizenship before his military enlistment, resulting in a ban on his entry to Korea since 2002. In 2015, he applied for a visa as an overseas Korean resident at the LA Consulate General but was denied and filed a lawsuit to cancel the refusal, ultimately winning the case.

However, the LA Consulate General again denied his visa issuance, and Yoo filed a second cancellation lawsuit, winning again at the Supreme Court in November last year. Nevertheless, at the request of the Military Manpower Administration, Yoo is currently banned from entering Korea. For him to set foot on Korean soil again, the entry ban must be lifted.

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