Steve Seungjun Yoo Won Two Previous Lawsuits
Ministry of Justice: "Could Affect Public Interest"
The second hearing in the third administrative lawsuit filed by singer Steve Seungjun Yoo (American name Steve Seungjun Yoo), who has been unable to enter South Korea due to military service evasion, against the government will be held on June 26. The hearing was originally scheduled for May but was postponed by the court, with the specific reason undisclosed.
Maeil Business Newspaper reported, "The 5th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongwon) will hold the second hearing on June 26 for the lawsuit filed by Steve Seungjun Yoo against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles (LA) and the Ministry of Justice, seeking the cancellation of the visa issuance refusal and confirmation of the non-existence of the entry ban decision."
At the first hearing held in March, Yoo's legal team argued, "The Supreme Court has already ruled in favor of Yoo in the first and second lawsuits, so the LA Consulate General should issue the visa. However, the Ministry of Justice's entry ban decision remains in effect, resulting in continued visa refusals. We request confirmation of the non-existence and invalidity of the 2002 entry ban decision."
Steve Seungjun Yoo won the previous two lawsuits, but in June of last year, the LA Consulate General again refused to issue him a visa. Consequently, in September of the same year, he filed a third lawsuit against the government.
The Ministry of Justice maintains that the entry ban is still necessary, as Steve Seungjun Yoo could affect the interests and public order of the Republic of Korea. The court plans to conclude the arguments with this single hearing.
Meanwhile, Steve Seungjun Yoo debuted in the music industry in 1997 and gained significant popularity. However, after obtaining permission to leave the country for a concert in the United States, he suddenly acquired U.S. citizenship and renounced his Korean nationality.
As a result, the Ministry of Justice imposed an entry ban on Steve Seungjun Yoo for renouncing his Korean nationality. Subsequently, in 2015, Yoo applied for a visa as an overseas Korean at the LA Consulate General but was denied.
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