[Summary] Yu Seung-jun Appealed... Kang Kyung-wha "Visa Issuance Not Allowed"

"The Supreme Court ruling means the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must meet procedural requirements"
Earlier, Military Manpower Administration Chief Mo Jong-hwa also said, "Entry ban must be maintained"
Yoo Seung-jun appeals, "Entry ban based on 18-year-old logic is inappropriate"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha is responding to questions during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Korea Foundation, and Overseas Koreans Foundation at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 26th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated that she will continue to refuse to grant a visa to singer Yoo Seung-jun (44, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo). Previously, Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Mo Jong-hwa also stated that the entry ban on Yoo should be maintained. Meanwhile, Yoo, whose visa issuance has been denied, has continuously appealed on the grounds that "it is unfair to refuse entry based on the same logic for over 18 years."

On the 26th, during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' audit by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Kang responded to a question from Ahn Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Do you think the entry ban on Steve Yoo should continue?" by saying, "(After the Supreme Court ruling) the government reviewed the relevant regulations," and added, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided not to allow visa issuance to (Yoo) going forward."

Regarding the Supreme Court ruling in March, Minister Kang explained, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to fulfill procedural requirements," and said, "The essence of the ruling is that the Ministry did not properly exercise its discretionary power. Therefore, it does not mean that Yoo should be allowed entry, but that the Ministry must fulfill procedural requirements and exercise discretion properly, and failing to do so was ruled unlawful."

Mojonghwa, Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, in 2015, Yoo filed an administrative lawsuit requesting the withdrawal of the refusal of his visa issuance by the Los Angeles (LA) Consulate General. The first and second trials upheld the LA Consulate General's refusal as lawful, but the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case last November, ordering the cancellation of the visa refusal decision.

Subsequently, Yoo won the final victory at the Supreme Court in March after the retrial. However, the LA Consulate General again refused to issue a visa to Yoo in July. Yoo then filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court to cancel the refusal of passport and visa issuance.

Previously, on the 13th, Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Mo Jong-hwa also expressed the position that the entry ban on Yoo should be maintained. At the National Assembly's National Defense Committee's Military Manpower Administration audit, Commissioner Mo said, "I don't even want to use the name Yoo Seung-jun. I think of him as Steve Yoo," and added, "(His) entry should be banned."

Singer Yoo Seung-jun. / Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "(Yoo) was assigned military service in 2002 but obtained U.S. citizenship within a week after receiving permission for overseas travel, evading military duty," and explained, "I understand that an administrative lawsuit is ongoing because the visa issuance to Steve Yoo was refused. I have been watching that process."

He further pointed out, "Steve Yoo abandoned his noble military duty himself," and said, "If he enters and engages in entertainment activities domestically, how much loss of morale would our soldiers currently serving feel at this very moment?"

Meanwhile, Yoo posted a lengthy letter addressed to Commissioner Mo on his Instagram on the same day. In the letter, Yoo expressed, "I am still sorry for not keeping my promise to serve in the military in 2002 and disappointing many people," but appealed, "It is unreasonable to impose an indefinite entry ban and continue to refuse entry based on the same logic even after 18 years."

He added, "I am the first and last person in the history of the Republic of Korea to be banned from entry on the grounds of acquiring citizenship to evade military service," and lamented, "I am not a criminal, nor a powerful person, conglomerate owner, or politician. I am a powerless entertainer who briefly enjoyed popularity a long time ago."