Steve Seungjun Yoo

Infobox musical artist
Name = Yoo Seung Jun
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Yoo Seung Jun
Alias = Steve
Born = birth date and age|1976|12|15
Died =
Origin = Seoul, Korea
Instrument =
Genre = K-pop, R&B, Dance, Urban, Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper, singer, Dancer, Model
Years_active = 1997-2002, 2006-present
Label = DreamBeat (2006-present)
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = Infobox Korean name
hangul=유승준
hanja=劉承俊
mr=Yu Sŭngjun
rr=Yu Seungjun
tablewidth=265
color=khaki
title=Korean name

Steve Seungjun Yoo or Yoo Seung-Jun was a popular South Korean pop star until 2002 for controversies around his military service. [cite news|url=http://media.paran.com/sdiscuss/newsview2.php?dirnews=1891666&year=2008&key=hit |publisher=MyDaily |title=Why are the public still mad at Yoo Seung-jun?(유승준에 왜 대중은 여전히 분노할까?)|language=Korean|author=Bae Guk-nam (배국남)] He was noted for his high-energy dancing style, badass image, rapping, and singing ability.

Early life

Yoo Seung-Jun was born on December 15 1976, in Seoul, South Korea. When he was 6 years old, he began to dream of becoming a star. He enjoyed listening to music from Michael Jackson. His family moved to the America when he was 13 and resided at Buena Park, California. [ [http://www.kpopmusic.com/history/yooseungjun.shtml Yoo Seung Jun's History] ] He attended Sunny Hills High School, where he experienced discrimination and did poorly as a result of gang activity and drugs. Yoo eventually overcame his problems, and started singing in a church choir.

He discovered he had a knack for singing and dancing, so he began to video tape and make demos of his rap and dance moves. At 20 years old, he worked hard to get his name known in the Korean music industry, sending out demo tapes to various korean music agencies displaying his variety of talents: rapping, dancing, swimming, playing tennis, roller blading, playing basketball, body building, and Tae Kwon Do. For a while, no one responded, but when Steve Yoo finally received a response, he left California to start his singing career. [ [http://www.kpopmusic.com/history/yooseungjun.shtml Yoo Seung Jun's History] ]

Career

In 1996, he started filming himself singing and dancing, and sent these videos to [http://www.brosent.com Brothers Entertainment] where he was scouted. He was sent to Korea and debuted as a singer in 1997. His first album "West Side" was an instant hit with the song debuting with "Gawi" translated as "Nightmare". With the hit of "Gawi" and "I love you noona", He was awarded "The Best Rookie of the Year" in most of year end event. Yoo gained the big popularity with the specific dance move of the song "Gawi". The move that shake the legs while body goes down and up and few people line up diagonally to perform same dance move became the signature of Yoo. The summer of 1998, he released "1998 V2 for SALE" with the single "Na Na Na", the song and the music video for "Na Na Na" topped charts [ [http://www.kpopmusic.com/history/yooseungjun.shtml] ] and his popularity grew even more. 2nd album is consider as the most successful album of his career which award him "The Best Artist of the Year" on multiple award ceremony. In 1999, He went on to release his 3rd album "Now Or Never" with single album "passion". In this time, He started to expand his singing activity to China and Taiwan. Working with Taiwan singer "Yuki", He release the single "can't wait" in the China and Taiwan and gained big popularity which helped him later on his life. He continues to release album and single in Korea until 2002. From late 1990's to early 2000's, because of success of group idol like H.O.T and Shinhwa, Most korean entertainment company continue to produce group singers and Yoo seung jun is known as the best solo artist of that era.

Deportation Controversy

In South Korea, all males must serve 24 months in the military. Yoo said time and time again on Korean television that he would fulfill his duty. But in 2002, just before he was to be drafted, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen and appeared to the government with a U.S. passport. [ [http://popseoul.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/can-yoo-seung-jun-come-back-to-korea/#more-3298] ] [ [http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/yoo-seung-jun-betrays-korea-to-be-american/] ] As a result, the South Korean government considered his action an act of desertion, and deported him to the U.S, permanently banning him from entering Korea. The Korean public was also shocked at his action, and his fame plummeted. Yoo was later allowed to visit Korea for a short period to attend his father-in-law's funeral.

Post-Deportation

Yoo resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and childhood friend Christine Oh and they have a child. [ [http://popseoul.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/can-yoo-seung-jun-come-back-to-korea/#more-3298] ] He also has a music career going on in China. It was apparent that he has desires to return to Korea when he showed up on Korean TV begging the Korean public to forgive him [ [http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/yoo-seung-jun-betrays-korea-to-be-american/] ] he even showed up on Korean TV channel tvN, to talk about the reasons for his actions, with no success.

On 2007, he released his 7th album "Yoo Seung Jun Vol. 7 - Rebirth of YSJ" produced specifically in mind for his longtime fans who have stood by him throughout the highs and the lows of his career. The album was produced under the collaborated efforts from production teams from the U.S., China, and Korea. [ [http://us.yesasia.com/en/artIdxDept.aspx/section-music/code-k/aid-559/] ] He released various singles such as "Missing U", "Breakin' Love", "One For Me", and "Fireworks". It has also shown that he has become much more muscular since the days of "Na Na Na" and has improved on his English rapping. [ [http://popseoul.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/what-happened-to-yoo-seung-juns-body/] ] He has also earned a role in an untitled Taiwanese drama that will be loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis' famous novel Less Than Zero. In June of 2008, Steve Yoo signed 15 year contract with Jackie Chan's entertainment management company and looking forward to expand his career to acting and singing in the United States. Currently Yoo is in the china, continuing his singing career and attending Jackie Chan's stunting school to become an actor.

Discography

Albums

* 1 - "WEST SIDE" (1997)
* 2 - "1998 V2 for SALE" (1998)
* 3 - "Now Or Never" (1999)
* 4 - "OVER AND OVER" (1999)
* "Gold Techno Remix" (2000)
* 5 - "Summit Revival / 고지탈환" (2000)
* 6 - "Infinity" (2001)
* "BEST & J DUET COLLECTION" (2001)
* "Promise to Jun" (2006)
* 7 - "Rebirth of YSJ/리버스 오브 와이에스제이" (2007)

References

External links

* http://www.geocities.com/asianmp3s/koreanstar.html
* [http://people.empas.com/people/info/yo/os/yooseungjun/ Yoo Seung Jun in empas people]
* http://warghalv.tripod.com/news.html
* [http://www.asianhunk.net/steve-yoo/ Steve Yoo Seung Jun Photos]