Saying anything related to Yoo Seung Jun, the exiled singer is considered a taboo and a horrible PR move in the local entertainment industry, but bookworm balladeer Sung Si Kyung wasn’t shy to speak up about Yoo’s situation on a variety show last week.
Sung expressed his concern about Yoo’s situation because he believes that there is no legal ground for a foreigner, especially a Korean born foreigner, to be exiled from Korea. He reasoned that the only reason Yoo was forbidden to enter the country was because he was a celebrity and ironically, the public place a higher standard for judging celebs than politicans.
As sad as it is, Sung Si Kyung’s observation was correct, but his truthful commentary put him in the hot seat. As expected, many netizens jumped down his throat for even uttering a sentence about Yoo Seung Jun, but I commend him for his bravery and honesty. Well done Si Kyung! Do you agree with Sung Si Kyung? Should Yoo Seung Jun be allowed to come back to Korea?
| Should Yoo Seung Jun be allowed to come back to Korea? 1) Yes – it’s groundless for Korea to ban him 2) No – he broke his promise to the public 3) I’m not too sure, but it’s sad to see him exiled from Korea 4) I don’t care View ResultsMake your own poll |
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Can Yoo Seung Jun come back to Korea?
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Sung Si Kyung lacks the X-factor
I’m proud of Sung Si Kyung – and no offense, I thought it was quite harsh for Yoo Seung Jun to be exiled for the offense. Plenty of people are excused from the army and plenty of people do worse…murder, steal ~ trying to get out of going to the army isn’t that big of a deal.
Netizens really need to get a life.
wow, all this time, i just thought he had a voice. didn’t know he had balls too.
most countries legally have the right to exclude a noncitizen. America has relied on that since like 1908, so Korea I’m sure has somewhat of the same philosophy.
‘wow, all this time, i just thought he had a voice. didn’t know he had balls too.’
That totally cracked me up……………………But I’m pretty sure there r lots other korean male adults who managed to escape their army duties without causing so much controversies……..I think Yoo Seung Jun was a scapegoat……Well, wat do I know…I’m not even a korean….But I think it’s a bit too harsh to exile him altho he was a hypocrite……..hypocrisy is not illegal,is it????
he sld come back but not as a celebrity ever….
and claps for sung si kyung for his guts
I think Sung Si Kyung did the right thing! I mean it was stupid for Yoo to do what he did, but why ban him from your county! Aish…
This is the same country that does not accept biracial Korea born citizens into the army… soo yeah.
Sung Si Kyung is right but geez, just let him come back and see for himself if he will still be received by Korean fans after what he did. After all the talk, in the end it’s the viewers and fans that decides what will happen.
I think he should return to Korea, of course he has the right to…but then ban him from the entertainment industry instead.. Its not like he is a corrupted politican…who betrayed the WHOLE NATION and took the country’s assets…
Yoo Seung Joon acted like an ass about it, however I agree with this guy and give him props.
If netzins have the power to heat up the hot seat then other netzins should do the same to those netzins with a happy trigger finger.
Make enough noise and the press should pick up on it as a response to the negative press Sung Si Kyung will get.
I actually saw a clip of the show and SSK said the government was being childish.
You know, I think he picked a wrong time period to speak up about YSJ . . Isn’t SSK due to serve soon? =/ Kudos to him though. I always just thought he was a pretty voice.
And Netizens make the same amount of fuss about everything as crazy fangirls. –” So irritating.
I think these netizens are older than the average Suju fan. YSJ was a while ago, so I’m guessing they are either housewives or men who actually did their service in the army.
I’m not sure on this matter. I agree with SKS though. He was basically a foreigner working in Korea. Then again he did promise on national TV that he would serve. I guess I do think it was harsh to exile him. Korea was never really his home only a work place it seems.
He’s right!!! The law and popularity should be 2 completely seperate things. The government can’t just expel somebody from the country because they present a bad image. Even though what the government did wasn’t a big deal, it’s a slippery slope and has larger ramifications.
It’s sad that SSK couldn’t say something so obvious without getting the backlash.
he shouldnt have said anything but what he did is great thing now people know how he feels and what he think and he is right
I agree with ssk because the politics and image should be separated…….
Yeh ysj did bad by escaping military service…
but still he should not be banished from korea, cos it isnt that bad a “crime” (frm my point of view)
if people were banished frm their countries for doing such a thing then there woukdnt be so many people around in one countr, also if tehy do that because of missing military service, what punishments will come for criminals that commit worse offence than this????
Good for Sung Si Kyung to speak out his mind. He just proves that he is not just some mindless thoughtless celeb.
The whole thing about Yoo Seung Jun’s banishment is way over the top IMHO. The guy is not a criminal. He didn’t break any laws in Korea so making him an ‘example’ is just plain mean. Do I think YSJ is without dault? Of course not…he should not have backed out on his own words…but that doesn’t make him a criminal or someone worhty of being so despised.
I hope people can see the SSK’s point of view. Way to go Sung Si Kyung..I’m so proud of his stance.
I respect Sung Shi Kyung more than ever now and i could not agree with him more!! Thank you for speaking your mind! Keep speaking that lovely mind of yours haha
why those netizens are just the hammer to make sure the nails stay down, aren’t they!
koreans are very passionate and i think ysj just got the backlash of thier warped idea of patriotism…ssk has always been somewhat vilified for speaking his mind and he probably will continue to do so. shows guts, though. good on ssk!
wow a guy got banned from his country because he didn’t want to serve his military duty? funny… and to the guy who spoke up about it.. way to go! freedom of speech, better utilize it..
hmm…I think SSK’s education has almost inevitably made him more liberal than the average Korean. I quite agree with SSK’s reasoning but to tell the truth it’s hardly a surprise his comments weren’t well-received. I think when you live in America we tend to forget Asian countries (not just Korea) are MUCH more homogenized than the US – SSK just happens to be more ‘open minded’ in a sense because of his elite education, I think; SSK is simply more aware than most Koreans what the world is like beyond Korea and Asia.
Also, lest we forget, Korea remains divided and the DMZ remains one of the most heavily guarded borders today – and the Korean War has still NOT ENDED. While we as Americans have the luxury of criticizing mandatory service even while our own country is at war, sadly, in some cases, there is no other choice.
As for YSJ…I guess I’m an oldie now but in his prime he was quite the symbol of ‘manliness’ and to tell the truth I think that image really backlashed on him when he so cowardly backed down on his word. Here was a celebrity who not only looked (very built and athletic) the part of a soldier (or at least a very virile man) but endorsed that imaged for years – yet when the time came he turned out to be the opposite. I think he completely misunderstood the Korean mindset and the importance of military service, a real pity considering how long he was there.
I wholeheartedly agree that it’s time Korea let him come back and test the waters himself. Nonetheless, I also see why Korea is so bitter over his actions.
kudos to sung sikyung for standing up for what he believes is right!
Sf has a point…
we tend to forget that asian countries are much different from the U.S and Europe…
and It’s realy nice to see SSK speaking up his mind…
man .. ssk makes me like him more ^^
sf that’s a brilliant point. it’s not just hypocrisy YSJ’s damned for. he reaped the benefits of playing the Macho Ideal (and we all know how deeply ingrained this Sacred Monster is in many Asian cultures).
Maybe the only way he’ll be allowed back, is to personally sit on a tank, shaking his fist while chanting Arirang and charging in the general direction of Kim jong-il.
What YSJ did wrong was not “hypocrisy”…there was nothing hypocritical about what he did. If he had said, “only cowards don’t do their duty”…then he’d be a hyporite.
What he did was mislead people into believing that he would do his time in the army…if he had just said “I don’t want to give up my US citizenship” then he wouldn’t be avoided like the plague.
Sung Si Kyung told the truth and Yoo should be allowed back in. He broke his promise, so what? He owes the public nothing! The only thing he owes anything to would be his family and friends, NOT the public!
SO so ridiculous.
So, none of these ‘angry’ folks never told a lie? Those are the real hypocrites!
Life is South Korea is pretty hard. (don’t jump down my throat I am Korean) The kids are over scheduled and the parents lead pretty structured lives a well. Dads rarely come home because of work and socializing and moms are busy catering to their children and husband. The Netizen are just stressed young adults/teenagers unable to express themselves in real life so they gain power on the web. I guess it’s an outlet for them to let it “all hang out”. Basically they are nameless bullys that get off on picking on someone who goes against the crowd. Good for SSK for speaking his mind. Atleast he has enough balls to say what I am sure most people are thinking. Ask any young men in Korea if they want to go into the Army. Most of them will answer no!
@rocketfuel: i was going by the earlier PS post:
http://popseoul.com/2007/06/22/can-yoo-seung-jun-come-back-to-korea/
where he played up the patriot card to enhance his public image, then contradicted that in his private life decision as a Korean citizen. maybe your idea of hypocrisy is different from mine, or that hypocrisy is too light for this…”betrayal” of public expectation (which he cultivated)? i guess it’s a matter of perspective. if he got my blood boiled, i’d see him as a traitor than “mere” hypocrite
yoo seung jun should be allowed to return to korea….then he should serve his military duties the second he steps foot in the country.
then he can entertain his comrades by doing the Gahwee dance over and over again.
westsiiiiiiiide!
IMHO:
let YSJ back into Korea
under the condition that he serves his military duty!
They should let him come back. Anyway, why does he want to come back to Korea? Is he doing bad in China or something?
@Sf:
You made a lot of good points. And I watched this show last week, and I was like WHOA. I can’t believe SSK brought up taboo topic YSJ… and criticized the GOVERNMENT! But I definitely give him props for speaking his mind. The entire time I was watching that show, I could really see how liberal-minded SSK is (well, by Korean standards), and it was really interesting. Anyway, good for SSK for speaking up!
Cindel
I believe the military now accepts mixed race people.
Now I can understand the English government for exiling American rapper Snoop Dogg for life for bringing in hard, illegal drugs, but exiling Yoo Seung Jun from Korea for changing his word and heading to the States (which many Korean celebrities did before Yoo Seung Jun) is pretty wacked out.
I guess the Korean government got tired of all this special treatment for the celebrities, so they just used Yoo Seung Jun as an example for other celebs. Now you notice many of them just give up on not wanting to go, and they go.
It sucks that many South Korean men have to spend two years of training, but it’s a must since North Korea is itching to invade and sack South Korea. Yup, much props and respect to Sung Shi Kyung.
dwilliams, I think if they havent yet they are for sure going to have to in the future.
Alright, so the guy is a lier and a coward… does that mean he should be kicked out of the country? Just because the netizens make a big stink about it this happens? They hide behind their computers and say what ever the hell they want. I know people who have skipped their service by doing other things but it didnt make everyone around them hate them. I think people love to just take the piss out of celebs. Like they are so moral…
“This is the same country that does not accept biracial Korea born citizens into the army… soo yeah.”
REALLY??? i didnt know they were THAT conservative…
I can’t believe that they would exile a guy because he changed his mind. Is changing your mind a big enough crime to be exiled from a country?
I don’t really know much about this case but it just sounds so ridiculous to me..
but let me get this straight. He both US and Korean citizenship? i dont get it. He promised he would serve his military duty but then changed his mind and moved to the states? Did he HAVE to do it? was he born in Korea?..
**sigh** I dont get it, but it still sounds kinda silly. I guess we do forget that not every country is like the US…and considering S. Korea and N. Korea are technically still at war, i guess i could see how something like that can be considered treason by a conservative nationalist population.
confused… if he’s a foreigner why would he have to serve in the korean army? Why would the korean army accept a foreigner to serve, plus how would the US army take it?
yeah but if he did promise to go into the army backing out does sound cowardly.
btw: I totally gotta give props to SSK for stating his mind. but kinda don’t agree w/ how some ppl are commenting that he’s open minded cuz of his “elite” education. err… maybe it’s just the phrasing of that comment but dude it sounded like your saying the majority of S.Koreans have crappy education. or that western edu is the best…..
my opinon/question about foreigners working in S. korea:
I get that the southern koreans put a lot of pride into their army and that they think it’s not fair that a foreigner can just come in and “steal their rice bowls” but really the fans could have just worshiped some other idol, or get mad at the record company for signing a foreigner. Heck why do talent searchs in the US and China. Also it’s not like YJS and others like Brian/Han Kyuang don’t pay taxes for korea. I’m pretty sure there’s still a income take he has to pay. Plus he’s not geting the full benifits for being a korean citizen. He can’t vote, drive (?) , plus they have to leave like every 6 mo? And they can’t go on shows like Mnet. Is there something i’m missing/misunderstanding? Plz enlighten me!
I’m not bashing on S.Korea i’m just confused. plus it’s not just Koreans w/ this mentality. Japan (i’ve heard) is pretty anti foreigners too. You can live there for 20-40 years there and still not be able be recognized as a citizen. my prof. told me.
go sung sikyung for being brave!!
>.<
At least someone spoke up about it… I mean, subtly avoiding the issue isn’t going to solve it right? Keeps people on the edge of their seat, carefully scanning their sentences. At least we know now SSK’s more of a man than YSJ will ever be. As deplorable as YSJ’s actions were, maybe he should serve a longer military sentence. YSJ should be given a second chance.
Let him back in when he’s say…70?
Totally right pop seoul…he is correct and I saw the video a day after it came out…and he was totally right and makes sense. He is an smart man and he said it thinking about the consequences.
Oh, they need to get over it and let the man say what he wants to say. He has a mouth and every right to use it. Koreans are just too prideful and if you go against the grain then you become an outcast. Regardless of whether Yoo Seung Jun should be allowed back (which he should, it’s not like he promised to end world hunger), good job to Si Kyung for being brave and saying what he thought.
Anyway…Si Kyung’s hair looks amazing, lol. That thick wave of inky black hair–gorgeous.
oh! i just watched this show on youtube. i’m glad i did because he says so much more than what all the buzz is about and he said it very eloquently. i didn’t understand why the host seemed so against ssk, though…and just watching it made me be scared for ssk and the backlash of the korean ppl. i thought ssk was very brave…the funny thing is, usually, he is portrayed so feminine or not very macho…it’s not always the appearance, is it? ysj looks so tough and all but he couldn’t follow through with his image while someone who sings soft songs has the guts to say things that may target him…anyways, here is the vid.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oNiKx0g1G8s
Gawd, he makes me love him more. After all, he’s going into the army soon and yet he dares to make such a statement. fact is, the directors could have cut the segment out if they deem it politically controversial but they let it go on air….which means that they’re behind what SSK had to say.
Good on ya, SSK! Irregardless, I think the politicians are going to be eyeing him for a while until he enters military service.
But yes, he’s a well educated man who has his own opinion on this thing…so what?
I saw the show where he said the stuff about YSJ, and I agree with the logic behind what he says but at the same time I don’t know if I agree fully with him being allowed back in Korea. If he is allowed, at the very least I don’t think he should be allowed to perform. I don’t think it would be fair to the many Korean singers who serve for the country that really gave them their success. YSJ profited hugely from Korea and it wasn’t right of him to deny his citizenship when it came time for him to give back.
And it’s probably true that many politicians probably do the same thing and get away with it but that’s the reality of today’s society. Celebrities’ actions and opinions have a huge influence on the public and that’s not something that’s going to change just because it’s not fair or not right. There’s a certain amount of social responsibility that comes with being a star and that’s something that needs to be taken into consideration when they choose to say things or act in a certain way.
However, it is refreshing to see that the Korean media is becoming more open to differing opinions and not being as censored. Hopefully this will encourage others to speak more honestly about the political problems that exist in Korea today.
Fighting Sung Shi Kyung! You said that was right. Koreans should jump down other peoples throat like Psy and other celebs for even trying to get out of the army.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oNiKx0g1G8s
Here’s the link of him saying all the stuff with english subs. I respect him for being able to voice his opinion.
seriously…i don’t think a country should ban anyone who was born in that country…so what if he didn’t want to do his military service…i mean, getting citizenship in the states is not as easy as everyone thinks…many Koreans immigrate to the states…it’s not like he made an announcement that he immigrated there so he didn’t need to do his service…maybe he really did want to move here.
I’m not Korean so I am seeing this from an American Point of view, but I think they should let YSJ back. I think it is ridiculous that he can’t see his family in Korea. The contrast with the murders and pedophiles made me realize how blown out of propotion this was. However, I do understand that a million soldiers guard the DMZ till this day and may be the reason and importance of their mandatory military obligations.
I am glad that SSK voiced his opinions, despite an unfavoring audience. People can’t hide behind a facade forever.