Singer Steve Yoo, who previously dodged mandatory military service by obtaining U.S. citizenship just as he was due to enlist, is launching his third legal battle to gain entry into South Korea.
On the afternoon of the 20th, the Administrative Division 5 of the Seoul Administrative Court, presided over by Judge Kim Soon-yeol, will hold the first hearing for the lawsuit filed by Steve Yoo against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles and the Ministry of Justice. The lawsuit seeks to confirm the non-existence of the entry ban decision and to cancel the refusal of visa issuance.
Steve Yoo has been on the entry ban list for 23 years due to a violation of Article 11 of the Immigration Control Act. In 2002, he repeatedly declared his intention to enlist in the military but instead traveled to the United States for a concert and acquired U.S. citizenship, thereby exempting himself from military service.
There is a legal provision that allows for entry to be denied to individuals deemed to pose a significant threat to the national interest or public safety of South Korea.
Steve Yoo previously filed a lawsuit against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles over the refusal to issue a visa and ultimately won the case.
However, when his visa application was denied again, Steve Yoo filed another lawsuit in September of last year against the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles to cancel the refusal decision and also filed a suit against the Ministry of Justice to confirm the non-existence of the entry ban decision.
kykang@sbs.co.kr
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)