Yoo Seung-jun's Side: "No One Else Has Received Such a Disposition"

Mr. Yoo Seung-jun is talking about the 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention Act' in a video he uploaded to his YouTube channel on December 19 last year. Photo by Yoo Seung-jun, YouTube video capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Singer Steve Yoo (45, Korean name Yoo Seung-jun) claimed that the 19-year refusal to allow his entry into Korea is an excessive measure that violates the principles of proportionality and equality.

The Seoul Administrative Court, Administrative Division 5 (Presiding Judge Jung Sang-gyu) held the first hearing on the lawsuit filed by Yoo against the Consulate General in Los Angeles (LA) seeking cancellation of the refusal to issue a passport and visa on the 3rd.

On that day, Yoo's side pointed out, "The defendant's disposition violates the principles of proportionality and equality," adding, "No one else has received such a disposition."

They continued, "It has been almost 20 years since the first entry refusal, and it is questionable whether this issue should still be a problem after 20 years," adding, "Even now, when the issue of military service arises, Yoo's name comes up. While there are people who do not know his songs, there is no one who is unaware of the military service controversy."

In response, the LA Consulate General stated, "We have no choice but to make a judgment considering the social impact and issues comprehensively," and "It cannot be denied that Yoo's entry is still a major social controversy."

The two sides also debated the interpretation of the Supreme Court's final ruling issued in March last year. Yoo's side argued that since the administrative lawsuit regarding the overseas Korean entry visa was finally won at the Supreme Court's rehearing, the visa issuance should not be refused. On the other hand, the LA Consulate General countered that it only meant to decide the visa issuance again through discretionary power, not that the visa must be issued.

Meanwhile, on February 23, then Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Mo Jong-hwa criticized at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary session, "Yoo did not simply break a promise with fans but violated the Military Service Act. He is the only one who engaged in profit-making activities domestically and obtained U.S. citizenship after receiving a military service notice. It is not right for Yoo, who evaded military service through deceptive means, to talk about fairness."

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