[2020 National Audit] Minister Kang Kyung-wha: "Visa Issuance for Yoo Seung-jun Will Not Be Allowed"

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha announced that she will continue to deny visa issuance to singer Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo), who is restricted from entering the country due to evading military service.

On the 26th, during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit, in response to lawmaker Ahn Min-seok's question, "Do you think the entry ban on Steve Yoo should continue?" Minister Kang said, "The government reviewed the relevant regulations and made a decision," adding, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to refuse visa issuance."

Regarding the Supreme Court ruling in March, she emphasized that it was a call to fulfill procedural requirements. Minister Kang stated, "The Supreme Court ruling meant that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should fulfill procedural requirements," and explained, "The ruling's intent was that the Ministry did not properly exercise its discretionary power. Therefore, it did not order to allow Yoo's entry but ruled that failing to fulfill procedural requirements and exercising discretion improperly was illegal."

Yoo renounced his Korean nationality in 2002 to evade military service. Consequently, the Ministry of Justice restricted his entry. Later, in September 2015, Yoo requested the Los Angeles Consulate General to issue a visa for overseas Koreans, but the visa issuance was denied. This matter led to Yoo filing a lawsuit, and after a retrial, he finally won at the Supreme Court in March.

The Supreme Court's judgment indicated that the refusal to issue a visa lacked due process and did not mean that a visa must be issued. Yoo again filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court in July, challenging the refusal of passport and visa issuance by the Los Angeles Consulate General.