YOO SEUNG JUN
Fans of singer YOO SEUNG JUN (48 years old, Steve Yoo) have made an appeal to President Lee Jae Myung, requesting a pardon for him.
On the YOO SEUNG JUN gallery of the DC Inside website, a statement signed “All the fans who love YOO SEUNG JUN” was posted on August 9. It read:
“Recently, news circulated that the government is considering granting pardons and reinstatements to politicians and public officials ahead of August 15, Liberation Day. We hope that this spirit of clemency and inclusion will be applied fairly not only to politicians and public officials but to all citizens as well.”
They added:
“In the case of YOO SEUNG JUN, who has been banned from entering Korea for over 20 years due to a military service issue, the Supreme Court has already ruled twice, in 2019 and 2023, that the visa denial was unlawful. Despite this, the restriction continues, which, in light of the principle of equality and the spirit of the rule of law, deserves to be reconsidered.”
They continued:
“YOO SEUNG JUN has endured much criticism and sanctions over the years. This does not mean he was without fault, but he has fully borne the social responsibility that followed. It is now time to look beyond the past and give him a chance to live anew within Korean society. For this reason, we, the fans of YOO SEUNG JUN, sincerely appeal to President Lee Jae Myung.”
They also stated:
“The desire for national reconciliation and unity, highlighted through the review of pardons for politicians such as Cho Kuk, former leader of the People’s Innovation Party, and Yoon Mee Hyang, former lawmaker, should also be equally applied to an ordinary citizen like YOO SEUNG JUN. We hope the president’s decision will serve as a concrete example of implementing the constitutional values of equality and fairness, and an opportunity for national unity.”
For background, YOO SEUNG JUN, while preparing to serve in the military, left Korea in 2002 for an overseas concert and later acquired U.S. citizenship, which exempted him from military service. This situation raised suspicions of military evasion, leading to a ban on his entry into Korea.
In 2015, YOO SEUNG JUN applied for an F-4 visa (for overseas Korean nationals) at the Los Angeles Consulate General. However, the consulate refused, arguing that “YOO SEUNG JUN’s evasion of military duty poses a risk to national interests.” In October 2020, YOO SEUNG JUN filed an administrative lawsuit against the LA Consulate General. He won on appeal, but the consulate continues to refuse to issue the visa. He has filed a third administrative lawsuit against the government, which is still ongoing. The verdict in this case is scheduled for August 28.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: DC INSIDE
