Yoo Seung-jun's Third Lawsuit Against South Korean Government Continues

Yoo Seung-jun (유승준), also known as Steven Yoo, has been unable to enter South Korea for 23 years due to military service evasion allegations. In the second hearing of his third administrative lawsuit against the government, the Ministry of Justice reiterated its stance that his entry cannot be permitted. On June 26, the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 5, presided over by Judge Lee Jeong-won, held a hearing regarding Yoo's lawsuit against the Los Angeles Consulate and the Ministry of Justice, seeking to cancel the visa denial and confirm the non-existence of the entry ban.

Yoo's legal team argued that the Supreme Court's decisions in previous lawsuits mandated the issuance of a visa by the LA Consulate, yet the Ministry's entry ban remains valid, preventing the issuance. They requested confirmation of the non-existence and invalidity of the 2002 entry ban.

They also referenced soccer player Seok Hyun-jun, who faced legal action for failing to return to Korea by a specified date despite being notified by the Military Manpower Administration. The court sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for one year, but he did not face an entry ban into Korea.

The Ministry of Justice countered that Yoo's potential impact on the public interest and safety justifies the continued entry ban. They stated, 'The entry ban is within the authority and discretion of the Minister of Justice,' and expressed concerns that Yoo's return could lead to social unrest due to ongoing disputes with the public.

Yoo debuted in April 1997 and lost his South Korean citizenship after acquiring U.S. citizenship in 2002 while leaving for a performance, which led to accusations of evading military service and subsequent entry restrictions. In 2015, he applied for an overseas Korean (F-4) visa at the LA Consulate, which was denied. After a series of legal battles, he won a Supreme Court ruling in his favor, but the consulate continued to deny his visa applications. Following another Supreme Court victory in November 2023, the consulate again rejected his visa in June 2024, prompting Yoo to file a third lawsuit in September 2024.