[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that regarding singer Yoo Seung-jun (American name Steve Seung-jun Yoo), who is banned from entering Korea and has won the final lawsuit for visa issuance, the decision on whether to issue a visa if he applies in the future will be made through discussions with related government departments.
On the 13th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "With the Supreme Court's final ruling confirming the Seoul High Court's remand judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the Ministry will closely cooperate with related departments such as the Ministry of Justice and the Military Manpower Administration during the visa screening process for the plaintiff in the future." It added, "The government plans to decide on the issuance of the visa for the plaintiff through lawful discretionary authority."
The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Kim Seon-su) confirmed the lower court's ruling in favor of the plaintiff in the rehearing of the lawsuit filed by Yoo against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles (hereafter LA Consulate), requesting the cancellation of the visa issuance refusal.
The lower court ruling that the LA Consulate's refusal to issue an overseas Korean (F-4) visa to Yoo in 2015 on the grounds that he was banned from entering the country by the Ministry of Justice was illegal has been finalized.
The Supreme Court ruled that the LA Consulate's refusal to issue a visa solely based on the past entry ban decision by the Ministry of Justice without exercising any discretionary authority was improper and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court.
Accordingly, Yoo is expected to apply for a visa again, but the LA Consulate still has the possibility to refuse visa issuance on other grounds.
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