Singer Steve Yoo (known in Korea as Yoo Seung-jun) became emotional and shed tears after receiving a warm reception from Korean fans at veteran artist Tae Jin-ah’s U.S. concert venue.
On his YouTube channel, Yoo recently uploaded footage from Tae Jin-ah’s solo performance held at Yaamava Resort in California back in spring of last year.
During the show, Tae Jin-ah personally introduced Yoo, recalling: “When this artist first emerged, I told him ‘You will become a great singer, so never give up and push through to the end.’ Tonight, we have singer Steve Yoo here with us—he lives in LA.”
Seated in the audience, Yoo stood up and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle toward the crowd. Attendees responded with enthusiastic applause.
One elderly fan approached him, expressing: “Every time I see you, my heart aches. Are you still unable to return to Korea?” Overcome with emotion, Yoo couldn’t hold back his tears.
After launching his career in the late 1990s, Yoo gained massive popularity with hit songs including “Scissors,” “Passion,” and “Na Na Na.” However, controversy erupted when he acquired U.S. citizenship just before his mandatory military service was due, leading to accusations of draft evasion. He was subsequently banned from entering Korea.
Unable to set foot in his home country for many years, Yoo applied for an overseas Korean visa (F-4) starting in 2015 but was denied. He has since filed three separate lawsuits seeking to overturn the rejections.
Although Korea’s Supreme Court ruled in Yoo’s favor twice—once in early 2020 and again in late 2023—both the Ministry of Justice and the LA Consulate General have continued to refuse visa issuance, citing concerns that his avoidance of military duty “poses a risk to national interest.”
Following the consulate’s third denial, the case remains under appeal in ongoing legal proceedings.