K-pop singer Lee Seung-chul protests against Japan's entry refusal

Singer Lee Seung-chul, center, sings “The Day” with a choir of North Korean defectors, a song which expresses the desire for Korean reunification on the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, Aug. 14. / Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

Popular K-pop singer Lee Seung-chul has made his song promoting Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo available free on the Internet.

The move is seen as a protest against Japan denying him entry last Sunday, apparently because he sang the patriotic song in August.

His management agency said Korean and English versions of “The Day” are downloadable on its blog (blog.naver.com/theday140815).

“It’s free to download, distribute and reproduce the song,” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday. “All proceeds will be donated to civic groups dedicated to promoting Dokdo and world peace.”

Lee was quoted as saying, “I hope this song will let listeners think of Dokdo and the reunification of the two Koreas.

“I will never step back in the face of unjustifiable pressure. Rather, I will speak up more and strengthen my position regarding Dokdo.”

Last Sunday, immigration officials held the musician and his wife at Tokyo’s Haneda for four hours before sending them home.

According to Lee’s agency, when the musician asked why he was being refused entry, an immigration official cited unidentified media. When the singer reacted angrily, the official brought up the fact that Lee had smoked marijuana nearly 20 years ago.

Lee’s agency said this could not be the real reason, as the musician had visited Japan 15 times since he was caught smoking marijuana.

The Korean Embassy in Tokyo asked Japan to explain why the veteran singer had been denied entry. Japanese authorities would not say why, citing protection of privacy and customary procedure.

In response, Seoul’s foreign ministry spokesman said, “It’s regrettable for a Korean national to be denied entry for dubious reasons.”