The conclusion of the third appeal regarding the visa issuance for singer Yoo Seung-jun (also known as Steve Yoo), who was banned from entering South Korea after obtaining U.S. citizenship following a declaration to serve in the military, is expected in September.
On July 3, the Seoul High Court's Administrative Division 8-3, presided over by judges Kim Bong-won, Lee Young-chang, and Choi Bong-hee, announced that it will deliver its ruling on the appeal against the Los Angeles (LA) Consulate's visa denial on September 4 at 2 p.m.
During the hearing, both sides presented strong arguments regarding the visa denial.
A representative for the LA Consulate argued that the first-instance ruling in favor of Yoo was not based on legal principles but was excessively lenient. They stated, "Yoo has become an icon of military evasion in South Korean society and has caused great disappointment by misleading government agencies."
The representative emphasized that if the first-instance ruling is upheld, it could send a wrong signal to citizens who fulfill their military duties. They also noted that the overseas Korean visa grants nearly the same rights as those held by citizens, making it inappropriate to allow Yoo, who renounced his nationality to evade military service, to receive such a visa.
In response, Yoo's legal counsel countered, "The LA Consulate has been repeating the same argument for ten years, which ultimately boils down to the claim that public sentiment prevents his entry." They pointed out that the Supreme Court has already ruled that there are no grounds for Yoo's entry ban.
Yoo, who immigrated to the United States with his parents at a young age, debuted as a singer in South Korea in 1997 and achieved immense popularity. As he reached the age for military service, he underwent a physical examination by the Military Manpower Administration and publicly expressed his intention to enlist multiple times. However, in January 2002, he unexpectedly left for the U.S. and obtained citizenship, thus exempting him from military obligations.
As a result, the government restricted his entry, and when he applied for an overseas Korean visa (F-4) at the age of 38 in 2015, it was denied, prompting him to file a lawsuit against the South Korean government.
The overseas Korean visa Yoo applied for is issued to foreign nationals who either previously held South Korean nationality or have at least one parent or grandparent with South Korean nationality, allowing them to reside in Korea and engage in economic and social activities freely. This has led to suspicions that Yoo seeks to return to Korea to capitalize on his past fame through entertainment activities.
Ultimately, Yoo won his lawsuits against the government in both instances at the Supreme Court. However, the LA Consulate reiterated the government's stance, citing concerns that granting him a visa could harm national interests.
In response, Yoo filed a third lawsuit in September 2024. The first-instance court for this third lawsuit ruled in August of the previous year that the visa denial constituted an abuse of discretion, favoring Yoo.
Separately, Yoo recently expressed on his YouTube channel that he feels returning to Korea no longer holds significant meaning and that he has let go of many aspects, indicating a de facto abandonment of his plans to return.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.