Biography
Who is Yoo Seung-jun?
Early life and education
Yoo was born in Seoul, South Korea, on December 15, 1976. He and his family moved to the United States when he was thirteen years old. They eventually settled in Buena Park, California. During his teenage years, he joined a church choir and developed a passion for singing.
He attended Seoul Bunje Elementary School before moving to America. Later, he studied business at Cerritos College and also studied theology at Bethesda University. He previously attended the Kaywon School of Art and Design as a multimedia major while living in South Korea.
Music career highlights
Yoo Seung-jun debuted in South Korea in 1997 with the song Gawi. His first album, West Side, was a major success and sold one million copies. He followed this with the album 1998 V2 for SALE, which featured the hit single Na Na Na. That album also sold one million records and earned him several Best Artist of the Year awards.
In 1999, he released the album Now Or Never, which included the hit single Passion. This album recorded high sales, selling nearly 1.5 million units and setting a record for first-week sales at that time. He continued his musical output with the album Infinity in 2001, which reached number one on the charts.
Acting career and moves
After moving to China, Yoo worked as an actor in several productions. He played Prince Wen in the 2010 film Little Big Soldier and appeared as Jin Wuzhu in the 2013 historical TV series The Patriot Yue Fei. He also had a role in the film Dragon Blade.
In 2008, he signed a 15-year contract with the entertainment company owned by Jackie Chan to focus on acting. He has spent much of his career establishing himself in mainland China while continuing to sing and act across different regions.
Legal issues and banishment
In 2002, Yoo Seung-jun faced a significant controversy regarding South Korean military service. After receiving a grade 4 rank due to a herniated disc, he obtained United States citizenship in January 2002. This move made him exempt from the mandatory military service required in South Korea.
The South Korean government viewed this as an act of desertion and banned him from entering the country. He remains the only person ever banned from South Korea for acquiring a different citizenship. He has addressed these events in live streams, noting that he was under pressure from his agency and family concerns.
Birthday and age
Yoo Seung-jun was born on December 15, 1976, which makes Yoo 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Yoo shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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