Even after more than 20 years, he remains a topic of public interest. His name, which could have been forgotten by now, still resonates above average with the public.
On the 28th, the 5th Division of the Seoul Administrative Court held a hearing for the ruling on the lawsuit filed by Yoo Seung-jun against the Consulate General in Los Angeles regarding the visa denial. On this day, not only the media but also Yoo Seung-jun's fans showed up to observe the proceedings.
Perhaps due to the experiences from the first and second lawsuits, unlike the dozens of people who gathered back then, only about 10 fans quietly took their seats to wait for the court's ruling.
On this day, the court stated, “We have determined that granting Yoo Seung-jun entry does not pose a risk to public interest. When comparing the public interest gained from prohibiting Yoo Seung-jun's entry and his private interest, we believe that the degree of infringement on Yoo Seung-jun is greater, which violates the principle of proportionality.”
This is the third court's approval for Yoo Seung-jun's entry. However, the fans did not show much agitation and expressed their satisfaction with a nod. This is understandable as the judgment of the Ministry of Justice is still pending.
Along with this lawsuit, Yoo Seung-jun filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice to confirm the non-existence of the entry ban decision. Regarding this, the court dismissed the case, leaving room for Yoo Seung-jun's entry possibility.
Previously, the Ministry of Justice maintained that Yoo Seung-jun's entry could affect the public interest of South Korea, asserting the necessity of the entry ban. It is interpreted that if the Ministry of Justice continues to refuse even after this court ruling, his journey to Korea will still be difficult.
Recognizing this, both the media and fans did not show much agitation. After the trial, some fans who could not enter the courtroom shared information with each other, still expressing their interest and affection for Yoo Seung-jun's activities.
The cautiousness of the court and the Ministry of Justice is due to the ongoing public interest. The general public, excluding fans, still holds a negative view of his entry. This means there are too many obstacles for his entry to proceed smoothly.
What keeps Yoo Seung-jun, who was one of the top singers in the 1990s and 2000s, in the conversation even after 23 years is none other than his 'military service evasion'. Even after such a long time, the presence of media and fans who seek him out seems to keep his hope for 'entry' alive.
If interest wanes, will his attempts for entry come to an end? As long as there are public eyes opposing his entry and fans supporting him, his 'visa issuance' lawsuit is likely to go beyond the third and become an Nth lawsuit.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
