Who Is John Yoo? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on July 10, 1967, John Yoo is currently 57 years old as of 2025. He is an esteemed American legal scholar and a former official who served in various capacities within the U.S. government. Yoo is best known for his work as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel in the early 2000s, where he played a significant role in shaping national security policies during the presidency of George W. Bush. His legal writings often spark debates on executive power, civil liberties, and constitutional law.
| Occupation | War Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 10, 1967 |
| Age | 57 Years |
| Birth Place | Seoul, South Korea |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | South Korea |
Popularity
John Yoo's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
John Yoo stands at a height of approximately 6 feet (183 cm). While his exact weight is not publicly disclosed, it is estimated to be around 175 lbs (79 kg), giving him a healthy and average body type. His exact body measurements are not commonly shared; however, he maintains an active lifestyle reflective of his professional and academic engagements.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, John Yoo maintains a low profile regarding his personal life. He is known to be married; however, details about his spouse and family are kept private. There are no public records indicating that he has a boyfriend or girlfriend outside of his marriage. The focus of his public appearances usually revolves around his professional achievements rather than his personal relationships.
His parents were anti-communist, having been refugees during the Korean War. He immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a young child and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended high school at Episcopal Academy, graduating in 1985. While a student there, Yoo studied Greek and Latin.
Net Worth and Salary
John Yoo's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be approximately $4 million, primarily earned through his career in academia, legal consultancy, and various speaking engagements. His salary, while not explicitly disclosed, is believed to be substantial due to his prestigious positions and extensive experience in law and academia.
Career, Business and Investments
Yoo’s career is marked by his contributions to legal scholarship and government policy. He currently serves as a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he continues to influence future generations of legal minds. In addition to his teaching role, Yoo engages in legal consulting, providing insights on issues related to constitutional law and public policy. His investments are not publicly documented, but his financial success suggests a sound understanding of economic principles.
Yoo has been a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law since 1993, where he is the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law. He has written multiple books on presidential power and the war on terrorism, and many articles in scholarly journals and newspapers.
He has held the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of Trento and has been a visiting law professor at the Free University of Amsterdam, the University of Chicago, and Chapman University School of Law. Since 2003, Yoo has also been a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington.
He wrote a monthly column, "Closing Arguments", for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He has written academic books including Crisis and Command.
Social Network
John Yoo is active on various social media platforms, where he shares his insights on legal issues, public policy, and current affairs. While his following is not extensive compared to some celebrity figures, he engages with a knowledgeable audience interested in law and political theory. His presence on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn allows him to connect with fellow scholars, practitioners, and students.
In a 2006 book and a 2007 law review article, Yoo defended President Bush's terrorist surveillance program, arguing that "the TSP represents a valid exercise of the President's Commander-in-Chief authority to gather intelligence during wartime".
He claimed that critics of the program misunderstand the separation of powers between the President and Congress in wartime because of a failure to understand the differences between war and crime, and a difficulty in understanding the new challenges presented by a networked, dynamic enemy such as Al Qaeda.
"Because the United States is at war with Al Qaeda, the President possesses the constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to engage in warrantless surveillance of enemy activity." In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece in July 2009, Yoo wrote it was "absurd to think that a law like FISA should restrict live military operations against potentia
l attacks on the United States."
Education
John Yoo attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States. Yoo's educational background laid a solid foundation for his illustrious career in law and academia, equipping him with critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of constitutional matters.
John Choon Yoo (born July 10, 1967) is a South Korean-born American legal scholar and former government official who serves as the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Yoo became known for his legal opinions concerning executive power, warrantless wiretapping, and the Geneva Conventions while serving in the George W. Bush administration, during which he was the author of the controversial "Torture Memos" in the War on Terror.
