Producer Yoon Il-sang Revisits Yoo Seung-jun's Past, Criticizes Military Draft Evasion

Renowned producer Yoon Il-sang recently reflected on the early days and peak career of singer Yoo Seung-jun, whom he previously produced, during an episode on his YouTube channel, 'Producer Yoon Il-sang'.

Yoon Il-sang described Yoo Seung-jun as an artist he 'personally wanted to produce for the first time,' praising his intense gaze, actions, and dance skills during his debut. When asked if Yoo’s popularity rivaled that of today’s G-Dragon, Yoon responded, "It was incomparable. If it were today, he would have caused a global sensation." He also shared that the production company had met with Michael Jackson himself to mold Yoo into a similar global icon, and that Jackson had acknowledged Yoo's dancing abilities.

However, Yoon did not shy away from criticizing Yoo's decision to evade military service. "It was an unacceptable choice," he stated firmly. "He made grand promises to the public, and if he couldn't keep them, he should have offered a sincere apology. An apology is accepted when the recipient acknowledges it." Yoon emphasized the strong sense of betrayal felt towards the nation.

He concluded by saying, "I still occasionally contact him, but if Seung-jun decides not to speak to me because of this video, that's understandable. Personally, I don't hate him, but as a celebrity, what he did was wrong."

Yoo Seung-jun forfeited his Korean citizenship and obtained U.S. citizenship in 2002 under the guise of overseas performances, thereby evading mandatory military service. He remains banned from entering South Korea and is currently engaged in legal battles over visa applications.

Yoon Il-sang is a legendary composer and producer credited with creating numerous hit songs in the K-pop industry.

His prolific career includes producing iconic tracks such as 'You Mean Everything to Me,' 'Summer Within,' 'Imagination,' and 'Let It Snow.'

He is widely recognized for his significant contributions to K-pop, having crafted many songs that have become cornerstones of the genre.