The Ministry of Justice has claimed that the entry of singer Yoo Seung-jun (48, American name Steve Seung-jun Yoo) could cause social confusion.
On the morning of the 26th, the 5th Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Lee Jeong-won) held the second hearing for Yoo Seung-jun's lawsuit against the LA Consulate General regarding the refusal to issue a visa and a lawsuit against the Minister of Justice to confirm the non-existence of an entry ban.
Previously, Yoo Seung-jun had filed two lawsuits against the LA Consulate General for refusing to issue a visa, and this time he also filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice.
In response, Yoo Seung-jun's side emphasized, "The LA Consulate General claims that it is refusing to issue a visa because there is a decision to ban entry by the Minister of Justice. Therefore, we have also filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice to confirm the non-existence of the entry ban decision."
In turn, the Ministry of Justice argued, "The decision to ban entry is the authority and discretion of the Minister of Justice," and stated, "The plaintiff is continuously engaging in disputes with the public. If the plaintiff enters the country, it could cause social confusion," countering that the entry ban decision is lawful.
The court concluded the hearing on that day and set the date for the ruling on August 28.
Yoo Seung-jun debuted in 1997 and was loved for numerous hit songs such as "Gawi," "Passion," and "Na Na Na," but he was banned from entering the country due to the controversy over avoiding military service after acquiring U.S. citizenship before his enlistment in 2002.
After being unable to set foot in Korea for several years, he applied for an overseas Korean visa (F-4) in 2015 to enter the country, and after being denied, he filed a lawsuit to have the denial canceled and ultimately won. However, the LA Consulate General again refused to issue the visa, and Yoo Seung-jun filed a second cancellation lawsuit, winning again in the Supreme Court in November 2023.
However, in 2024, the LA Consulate General decided to ban Yoo Seung-jun's entry after reviewing with the Ministry of Justice and others, stating that his actions after July 2, 2020 (the date of the second denial) could threaten the national security, order maintenance, public welfare, and diplomatic relations of South Korea.
In response, Yoo Seung-jun initiated a third legal battle against the government in September of the same year by filing a lawsuit to cancel the denial and confirm the non-existence of the entry ban decision.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
