Ruling opens chance for ostracized K-pop singer to enter Korea after 17 years

By Kim Hyun-bin

The Seoul High Court annulled the Korean consulate general in Los Angeles's decision to refuse to issue a visa for Korean American singer Yoo Seung-jun ― also known as Steve Yoo ― Friday.

The decision has given Yoo the chance to enter Korea 17 years after the country imposed an entry ban on him for giving up his Korean nationality to evade conscription

The ruling comes four months after the Supreme Court sent the case back to the high court by overturning previous rulings that approved the immigration authorities' refusal to issue a visa for him.

Yoo debuted in Korea in 1997 and became one of the most popular singers here, but his popularity came to a crashing halt in early 2002 after he gave up his Korean nationality and chose U.S. citizenship to dodge mandatory military service, sparking an enormous public outcry as he had previously vowed to serve in the military.

In Korea, all able-bodied men over the age of 20 are obligated to serve in the military for 21 months.

The justice ministry placed an entry ban on him, and so he began an acting career in China. Yoo unsuccessfully tried several times to have the ban lifted.

He filed a suit in 2015 after the consulate general rejected his request for an E-4 visa, which is given to ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship.

Local and high courts ruled against him, claiming his return to the country could demoralize soldiers who are serving their mandatory service and provoke young people to also seek to evade their service.

However, on July 11, the top court ruled in favor of Yoo, saying there were administrative flaws in the LA consulate general's rejection of Yoo's visa request. It said the consulate general did not exercise its discretionary power to decide on the visa issuance but only followed the justice ministry's entry ban imposed 17 years ago.

Despite the high court ruling, it is to be seen whether he will be able to get the visa, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would appeal to the Supreme Court again.

“We will appeal to the Supreme Court to receive a final ruling,” an official from the foreign ministry said. “The foreign ministry will closely cooperate with related government bodies including the justice ministry and the Military Manpower Administration.”

It the top court again rules in favor of Yoo, the LA consulate general has to review his visa request. In that case, the chances of him getting the visa are high, as other people who renounced their Korean nationality to dodge the draft have usually been given the visa when they are over 38, the age when mandatory military duty expires.