Yoo Seung-jun, Who Chose US Military Service Instead of Korean, Now Appeals as "A Powerless Celebrity" (Comprehensive)

Blocked from entering the country in 2002 due to draft evasion
For years, urging 'entry permission' in online spaces
"I was just a temporarily popular celebrity," appeals
Also criticizes government and ruling party on YouTube

Singer Yoo Seung-jun, whose entry has been blocked due to draft evasion / Photo by YouTube video capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Singer Yoo Seung-jun (45, U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) is pursuing a second lawsuit to cancel the visa issuance refusal, requesting permission to enter South Korea. Yoo Seung-jun, whose entry was blocked due to evading military service at the peak of his popularity, has been appealing for years since his visa was denied in 2015, pleading "Please allow me to enter."

◆"I am a powerless celebrity... Please allow me to enter," repeatedly appeals online

Yoo Seung-jun has been repeatedly appealing to end the entry ban against him by using his YouTube channel and social media accounts.

In a letter posted on his Instagram last October, he said, "I still feel sorry for disappointing many people by not keeping my promise to serve in the military," but argued, "It is unreasonable to impose an indefinite entry ban over that issue and to refuse entry with the same logic even after 18 years."

He continued, "I am not a person who poses a threat to South Korea's national security, order maintenance, public welfare, or diplomatic relations," and appealed, "I am merely a powerless celebrity who enjoyed brief popularity a long time ago."

Yoo Seung-jun repeatedly urged the cancellation of the entry ban against him on social networking services and his YouTube channel. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, when Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo proposed the so-called 'Yoo Seung-jun Prevention 5 Acts' at the end of last year, Yoo changed his stance and criticized the government and ruling party.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel at the time, he angrily addressed lawmaker Kim, saying, "Does this bill make sense? Are you joking? Do politicians who work with South Korean taxpayers' money have nothing better to do?"

He also claimed that the Moon Jae-in administration was lowering the morale of the military. He said, "My entry was denied because it was feared it would lower military morale, but why does the military exist? What is our president doing? Going to Panmunjom to meet Kim Jong-un, shaking hands, hugging?doesn't our military's morale drop after seeing that?"

◆"I will fulfill my military duty," then suddenly acquired U.S. citizenship

In August 2001, while active as a singer in South Korea, Yoo Seung-jun underwent surgery for a herniated disc and was classified as Grade 4 in the physical examination. At the end of the same month, he was finally assigned as a public service worker.

As a popular celebrity at the time, his physical examination process and military service status were unprecedented topics of public interest in South Korea. Yoo Seung-jun also stated, "I will fulfill my military duty."

In August 2001, Yoo Seung-jun expressing his opinion during a physical examination. / Photo by Netv. TV Entertainment Capture

However, early the following year, Yoo Seung-jun proceeded with acquiring U.S. citizenship at a court in Los Angeles, and visited the South Korean Consulate General there to declare his intention to renounce Korean nationality. Contrary to his previous stance, he did not serve in the military.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice placed Yoo Seung-jun on the permanent entry ban list. Yoo continued his acting career in the U.S., China, and other countries instead of South Korea.

◆Files second lawsuit to cancel visa issuance refusal

In October 2015, Yoo Seung-jun applied for an Overseas Korean Visa (F-4). However, the Consulate General in Los Angeles refused to issue the visa, and Yoo filed an administrative lawsuit to cancel the refusal.

The first and second trials ruled that the visa refusal by the LA Consulate General was lawful, but the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision in November last year, ordering the cancellation of the visa refusal. After the remand trial, Yoo won the final verdict at the Supreme Court in March.

However, in July, the LA Consulate General again refused to issue a visa to Yoo Seung-jun. The decision was based on the current law regarding Overseas Koreans, which states that "Overseas Korean residency status shall not be granted if there is a concern that it harms the interests of South Korea."

Yoo's side appealed, saying, "I only failed to keep a promise as a celebrity, 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."

Yoo then filed another lawsuit to cancel the visa refusal by the LA Consulate General. The final hearing is scheduled for the 16th of next month, and the first trial verdict is expected early next year.