[Summary] On the Military Manpower Administration Chief's stance of "continued entry ban"... Yoo Seung-jun appeals, "I am a powerless entertainer"

Visa issuance denied even after Supreme Court victory in March
Yoo Seung-jun "I am not a person who harms Korea's national interest"
"Maintaining entry ban for security reasons is illegal"

Singer Yoo Seung-jun (44, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Singer Yoo Seung-jun (44, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) has revealed a lengthy letter addressed to Mo Jong-hwa, the Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, who stated his intention to maintain the ban on Yoo's entry into South Korea.

In the letter posted on his Instagram on the 13th, Yoo said, "I still feel sorry for disappointing many people by not keeping my promise to serve in the military back in 2002," adding, "However, I believe that imposing an indefinite entry ban over that issue and refusing my entry even after 18 years with the same reasoning is unreasonable."

He continued, "Just in the past five years alone, more than 20,000 people have acquired foreign nationality and thus had their military service obligations nullified," and "I am the first and last person in Korean history to be banned from entry on the grounds of acquiring citizenship to evade military service."

He further appealed, "I am not a person who poses a threat to South Korea's national security, public order, public welfare, or diplomatic relations," and "I am neither a criminal, a powerful figure, a chaebol, nor a politician. I am merely a powerless entertainer who briefly enjoyed popularity a long time ago."

Yoo emphasized, "Whether I am called Steve Yoo or Yoo Seung-jun, my roots are in South Korea, and the fact that I am one of many overseas Koreans who long for their homeland does not change."

Mojonghwa, Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, is reporting on duties at the Military Manpower Administration's national audit held by the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 13th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the same day, Commissioner Mo stated at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee audit that "Steve Yoo voluntarily abandoned his sacred military duty," and stressed, "If he enters the country and resumes entertainment activities domestically, how disheartening it would be for the soldiers currently fulfilling their military duties at this very moment."

In response to criticism questioning whether maintaining Yoo's entry ban is excessive, given that foreign nationals who have committed crimes can re-enter after five years of deportation, he said, "Fulfilling the sacred military duty is more important," and "The entry ban must continue."

Previously, Yoo had claimed his intention to fulfill his national defense duties. However, in January 2002, just before his enlistment, after performing with fans, he left the country saying he would "say goodbye to my family," then renounced his Korean nationality and acquired U.S. citizenship. Subsequently, the Military Manpower Administration requested the Ministry of Justice to ban Yoo's entry, and the Ministry accepted this, issuing the entry ban.

At that time, Yoo's side explained, "We all had permanent residency since immigrating to the U.S. when I was in the first year of middle school," and "Until the law was amended in 2004, permanent residency was lost upon military enlistment, so despite family objections, Yoo made an unwise choice." They argued that he did not acquire U.S. citizenship to evade military service.

Before enlisting in August 2001, Yoo Seung-jun during a physical examination. / Photo by Netv. Captured from 'TV Entertainment'

Later, in October 2015, Yoo applied for an Overseas Korean (F-4) visa. However, the U.S. Consulate General in Los Angeles (LA) refused to issue the visa, and Yoo filed an administrative lawsuit requesting the withdrawal of the refusal.

The first and second trials ruled that the LA Consulate General's refusal to issue the visa was lawful.

However, in November last year, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's ruling and remanded the case, ordering the cancellation of the visa refusal. After the remand trial, Yoo finally won the case at the Supreme Court in March.

Nevertheless, in July, the LA Consulate General again refused to issue the visa to Yoo, citing Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the current Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, which states that "Overseas Koreans shall not be granted residency status if there is a concern that it may harm Korea's interests such as national security and public order."

In response, Yoo's side appealed, "I only failed to keep a promise made as an entertainer, but imposing an indefinite entry ban citing national security and other reasons, and refusing entry with the same logic even after 18 years and 7 months, is illegal."

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