[Comprehensive] "Does Korea Think It's Easy?" Yoo Seung-jun, Youths 'Furious' Over Lawsuit to Enter Korea

Controversy Over "Draft Evasion" Yoo Seung-jun's Entry Administrative Lawsuit

In August 2001, Yoo Seung-jun expressing his opinion during a physical examination. Photo by Netv. TV Entertainment Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Singer Yoo Seung-jun (44, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) has won a lawsuit regarding visa issuance but is causing controversy by filing a lawsuit claiming he was denied entry. In particular, criticism is coming from men who are about to enlist or have already served in the military. There is also a view that the so-called grudge against Yoo, who once expressed his intention to enlist but suddenly canceled, still remains.

According to the legal community on the 7th, Yoo filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court against the Consulate General in Los Angeles (LA) to cancel the refusal of passport and visa issuance. Yoo reportedly filed the lawsuit after being denied visa issuance despite winning a ruling at the Supreme Court.

However, there are also unfavorable views regarding Yoo's actions. In the past, Yoo was actively working as a singer and promised to enlist, but he acquired U.S. citizenship to avoid military service, which sparked significant public criticism.

Some citizens' criticism remains strong. Kim, a company employee in his 40s, said, "I listened to Yoo Seung-jun's songs a lot. (Yoo Seung-jun) was very popular," but added, "I think he lost everything in an instant because of the enlistment issue." He emphasized, "Military issues are very sensitive in our divided country. Since Yoo Seung-jun touched on this, I think forgiveness is difficult."

Another office worker in his 20s, Lee, said, "I don't know what he thinks about Korea," expressing frustration, "It seems like he is taking it lightly." He continued, "It seems like he will keep filing lawsuits, but I hope he stops now," raising his voice.

Park, a university student in his 20s, said, "If he had said from the beginning that he wouldn't go to the military, he probably wouldn't have been criticized like this," and pointed out, "Many people have a negative view of him, so I don't understand why he insists on coming to Korea."

Yoo Seung-jun. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, Yoo acquired U.S. citizenship contrary to his earlier declaration to fulfill his national defense duties and was restricted from entering Korea in 2002.

As the controversy spread, Yoo's legal representative at the time emphasized that "Yoo Seung-jun's family immigrated to the U.S. when he was in the first grade of middle school, and all held permanent residency. Until the law was amended in 2004, military service would result in loss of permanent residency, so Yoo made an unwise choice due to his family's objections, and there was absolutely no intention to evade military service."

Later, on February 2, 2002, Yoo attempted to enter Korea at Incheon International Airport with his U.S. passport under the name "Steve Seung-jun Yoo," but was denied entry under Article 11 of the Immigration Control Act by the immigration office. Yoo lamented in an entry interview, "The entry ban is very regrettable and frustrating." He later applied to enter with an overseas Korean visa, but after being denied visa issuance, he filed an administrative lawsuit in 2015.

The first and second trials ruled that the government's refusal to issue a visa was lawful. However, in November 2019, the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case, ordering the cancellation of the visa issuance refusal, and Yoo won at the Supreme Court again this March after the remand trial.

The Supreme Court ruled that the LA Consulate General's refusal to issue a visa solely based on the past Ministry of Justice's entry ban decision without exercising discretion was illegal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.