Disgraced K-pop Star Steve Yoo Spotted Performing in LA Despite South Korean Ban
Steve Yoo, also known by his Korean name Yoo Seung-jun, has re-emerged in the spotlight after being seen performing at local events in Los Angeles. A post on a popular online community shared by a netizen revealed that Yoo frequently introduces himself as a ‘Korean superstar’ while performing classic hits like “Passion,” “Scissors,” and “NaNaNa” at small neighborhood gigs and night shows in LA.
According to the post, when not performing, Yoo is often spotted at fitness centers or enjoying outdoor activities with his children, including surfing in Huntington Beach and Malibu, as well as skateboarding in Fairfax.
The post also criticized Yoo’s ongoing efforts to return to Korea despite a lengthy ban following a high-profile military draft-dodging scandal. “His father used to say he’d send him to a military academy in the US to defend his actions, but even that didn’t happen,” the post wrote. “It’s baffling why he’s so desperate to come back to Korea when he seems to live comfortably in the US.”
The author expressed disdain over Yoo’s public image and style, saying, “He’s stuck in the 90s, wearing snapbacks backward and Bart Simpson T-shirts. Even if he could come back to Korea, he wouldn’t have a place in today’s K-pop scene.”
Recently, Yoo stirred further attention by sharing a photo on his personal social media account with veteran trot singer Tae Jin-ah, fueling curiosity about a potential future comeback.
Steve Yoo left South Korea in 2002 for a concert tour and then acquired U.S. citizenship, a move that effectively exempted him from mandatory military service. This led to accusations of draft evasion, resulting in a nationwide backlash and a ban on his re-entry into South Korea.
Despite multiple legal attempts since 2015, including a visa application under the overseas Korean F-4 residency status and a subsequent lawsuit against the Korean Consulate in LA, the South Korean government continues to deny him entry. Yoo won a court ruling in 2020, but authorities still refuse to grant his visa, prompting a third legal challenge currently underway.
