'Steve Yoo Law' takes aim at military avoiders

/ Korea Times File

By Lee Han-soo

With more Koreans renouncing their citizenship to avoid mandatory military service, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) has moved to introduce the “Steve Yoo Law” to stop the trend.

The MMA said more than 16,000 people have renounced their citizenship to avoid conscription.

Many are still living in Korea enjoying dual citizenship status, because the government has not introduced regulations to prevent it.

The so-called “Steve Yoo Law” comes from former K-pop singer Yoo Seung-joon, also known as Steve Yoo, who prompted controversy when he gave up his Korean citizenship to become an American in an alleged bid to evade conscription in 2002.

MMA’s existing laws state that a person would lose Korean citizenship if they chose to become a foreign citizen. But with the new law in place, the authority would allow dual citizenship and categorize them as “conscript-able.”

Increasing the inheritance tax and gift tax for those who renounce their Korean citizenship to avoid military service is also being considered.

Similar laws were in place in the U.S. in 2008 in an effort to stop foreign tax evasion.

People who renounce Korean citizenship to avoid military service are legally disadvantaged when it comes to job opportunities and starting a business.