By Karen Song
Singer Steve Seungjun Yoo, 32, once derided and deported from Korea due to his evasion of military service is making his way back here through the help of world celebrity Jackie Chan, Yonhap news reported, Monday.
According to Chan's entertainment company, JC group international, Yoo signed a 7 year exclusive contract with the group in May, with the aim of grooming him as an action star in Asia and the rest of the world.
Representative of JC group Korea Lee Mi-seon said, "Jackie Chan highly graded Yoo's potential to become the next famous action star after himself as he is a talented dancer and a singer, speaks fluent English and some Chinese". Lee said that Stanley Tong, the director of "Police Story", "Rumble In The Bronx", and "The Myth", was currently considering casting Yoo in his new film.
Preparing to debut as an actor, Yoo is undergoing martial arts and acting training at C group action school, and is also planning to work on a new album aimed at the Asian market.
In 2002, Yoo chose American citizenship right before he was supposed to begin his Korean military service, creating a backlash that ultimately resulted in him being barred from re-entry into Korea. Despite the criticism, he has constantly aimed for a come back, featuring as a singer on H-Eugene's debut single "Single Person" in 2006. Yoo also released his 7th album in Korea last year ― he has continued his singing based in China during the whole period.
Yoo is the first and only actor to have direct management by Jackie Chan, and Chan, in his meeting with Yoo reportedly told him that anyone can make mistakes when they are young, and how one overcomes those mistakes is more important.
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