Suggesting Abandonment of Return to Korea After 24 Years... Yoo Seung-jun, Accused of 'Military Service Fraud', Faces End of Third Lawsuit [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Yoo Seung-jun has hinted at giving up his return to Korea ahead of the second-instance appeal hearing for his third visa issuance lawsuit, drawing attention to how this statement may affect the court proceedings.

The 8th Administrative Division (B) of the Seoul High Court will hold the first debate session on July 3 for the appeal lawsuit filed by Yoo Seung-jun against the U.S. Consulate General in Los Angeles to revoke the visa denial decision. Previously, the 5th Division of the Seoul Administrative Court, which handled the first trial, ruled in favor of Yoo Seung-jun during the first-instance judgment announcement on August 2025. In response, the U.S. Consul General in Los Angeles filed an appeal through legal representatives, contesting the first-instance judgment result.

At that time, the court stated, "It is difficult to conclude that Yoo Seung-jun's words and actions are likely to harm the interests of the Republic of Korea, including national security, public order, and diplomatic relations." The court further explained, "When comparing the public interest gained by banning Yoo Seung-jun's entry with his private interests, the degree of infringement on Yoo Seung-jun is greater, constituting a violation of the principle of proportionality."

However, the court added, "This judgment does not imply that Yoo Seung-jun's past actions were appropriate." It also stated, "Even if Yoo Seung-jun is permitted to enter and reside in Korea, considering the sufficiently matured level of public awareness, there is no concern that his presence or activities would pose any disadvantage or threat to Korea's safety." Additionally, in the first-instance lawsuit filed by Yoo Seung-jun seeking confirmation that the Ministry of Justice's 2002 entry ban decision did not exist, the court rejected all claims, ruling that "the decision lacks actionable nature and is not subject to judicial review."

Yoo Seung-jun, who has been unable to set foot in Korea for 24 years amid controversy over evading military service, has continued filing lawsuits to revoke visa denial decisions, requesting entry bans to be lifted on three separate occasions.

However, in June, Yoo Seung-jun expressed his intention to end the 24th-year tedious battle through a video titled "I've Done Enough. I'm Planning to Stop Now."

Yoo Seung-jun wrote, "I think this might be the last video of this kind. I've suffered greatly over the years and have tried my best to convey my feelings through various methods. In fact, I didn't start this channel to tell my story from the beginning, but eventually, I found myself repeating the same story as if going in circles. However, just as the truth doesn't change even if people don't recognize it, if you understand my feelings, that would be enough."

Yoo Seung-jun continued, "I asked myself countless times, 'Why can't I forget Korea and why do I miss it so much?' While answering that question, I realized that I no longer need to spend my time and passion explaining the reasons, clearing up misunderstandings, or defending myself. I have maintained my YouTube channel for years, uploading almost no videos, hoping for a day when I could finally speak my voice properly. But now, I'm truly okay. Just being able to communicate with you is enough. I sincerely thank you for listening to my story and supporting me."

He further confessed, "Looking back, I have stubbornly lived for a very long time to prove just one fact: 'I am not the person they say I am.' Of course, I still believe I am not that person. But now, it's okay even if someone thinks of me differently. I have already received too much love, have countless things to be grateful for, and most importantly, I am happy. If anyone has been hurt because of me, I kindly ask for their forgiveness with a generous heart."

Attention is now focused on what positions the court and the parties will take in the first trial following these remarks.

Yoo Seung-jun, who had promised the public to enlist, left for the United States at the end of 2001 using the return guarantee system along with a deferment of military service. It is reported that the Military Manpower Administration accepted a letter from Yoo Seung-jun stating he would return immediately after completing his performance schedules in Japan and the United States, and approved his departure. However, Yoo Seung-jun broke his promise with the Military Manpower Administration, obtained U.S. citizenship in Los Angeles in 2002, renounced his Korean nationality, and landed at Incheon International Airport in February of that year. He was unable to pass immigration inspection, stayed for six hours, and returned to the United States. His entry was banned under Article 11 of the Immigration Control Act, which prohibits the entry of individuals whose presence may harm the interests of the Republic of Korea.

Subsequently, in October 2015, Yoo Seung-jun applied for an F-4 visa for overseas Koreans at the Los Angeles Consulate General. When the consulate denied the application, he filed a lawsuit and won two final judgments at the Supreme Court. However, in June 2024, the Los Angeles Consulate General again refused to issue a visa. In September 2024, Yoo Seung-jun filed a third lawsuit, including a lawsuit to revoke the denial decision and a lawsuit against the Ministry of Justice seeking confirmation that the entry ban decision did not exist. In this third administrative lawsuit, the Ministry of Justice clearly maintained its position that Yoo Seung-jun's entry cannot be permitted.

In the first lawsuit in 2015, the court stated, "The Minister of Military Manpower Administration requested an entry ban on the grounds that Yoo Seung-jun effectively evaded his military service obligation by obtaining U.S. citizenship, and the Minister of Justice issued an entry ban decision. Yoo Seung-jun applied for an F-4 visa as an overseas Korean but was denied." The court further explained, "Yoo Seung-jun obtained U.S. citizenship to evade his military service obligation as a citizen of the Republic of Korea. If Yoo Seung-jun enters Korea and continues his broadcasting and entertainment activities, it may lower the morale of military personnel, weaken the will to fulfill military service obligations, and create a trend of evading military service among teenagers approaching enlistment. This would hinder the performance of the national defense obligation stipulated in Article 39, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, endanger the preservation of territory, and disrupt the rule of law in the Republic of Korea, thereby harming the interests of the Republic of Korea, public safety, social order, and good morals."

However, the atmosphere of the case reversed when the Supreme Court overturned the lower court's judgment in 2017 after the lawsuit was transferred through the first-instance appeal and second-instance appeal. Ultimately, the case was remanded to the Seoul High Court, leading to a precedent favorable to Yoo Seung-jun, and he finally secured a victory at the Supreme Court in March 2020.

Immediately after the Supreme Court judgment, Yoo Seung-jun conveyed through his legal representative at the time, "I sincerely appreciate the Supreme Court's judgment. I have deeply recognized the concerns I caused to society and the criticism I received, and I will strive to contribute to society as much as possible. I will always reflect on the meaning of public criticism and live my life with a posture of lifelong repentance."

However, regarding the final judgment of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated through an official position, "We will closely cooperate with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and the Military Manpower Administration, during the visa review process for Yoo Seung-jun, and will decide on the issuance of his visa through appropriate exercise of discretionary authority." Ultimately, citing the rationale that "the Supreme Court's judgment indicates procedural issues in the visa denial process," the ministry rejected Yoo Seung-jun's visa application again, causing his return to Korea to be thwarted once more.

Yoo Seung-jun, who was on the verge of abandoning the lawsuit, filed another administrative lawsuit against the U.S. Consul General in Los Angeles in October 2020 after being persuaded by his lawyer.

At that time, the atmosphere was also unfavorable for Yoo Seung-jun in many ways. The social stigma of being labeled a "military service evader" carried some persuasiveness, and both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice directly expressed critical views toward Yoo Seung-jun. The first-instance court ruled against the plaintiff in April 2022.

During this period, Yoo Seung-jun, while trying to express his grievance, even made a reckless remark, "I never intended to join the military." He also added sophistry, claiming, "The promise was sincere, but I failed to fulfill it." Furthermore, Yoo Seung-jun named overseas Korean singers who were active with him when he was at the peak of his popularity and argued, "Why are you targeting only me?" When he was already assigned to public service duty and about to enlist, but had left for the United States and returned to face entry denial, his complaint that "joining the military would create a gap in my singing career" can only be interpreted as an argument asking for understanding that he could not join the military.

However, as time passed, Yoo Seung-jun, now 43 years old, became free from restrictions under the Act on the Entry and Exit of Overseas Koreans and Their Legal Status (hereinafter the Overseas Koreans Act), which generally prohibits visa issuance for those who acquired foreign nationality to evade military service and lost Korean nationality, except when the Minister of Justice deems it necessary. When the lawyer for the Los Angeles Consulate General raised doubts again about Yoo Seung-jun's purpose of entry, stating, "We cannot help but question whether Yoo Seung-jun's stated purpose of entry in this lawsuit is accurate," Yoo Seung-jun responded, "Although it is said that overseas Koreans should not receive special privileges, we recommended them regarding their purpose of entry. Since they could not apply for other visas or be judged without overseas Korean residence status, they applied for an overseas Korean residence visa." This marked a slightly different atmosphere compared to the first lawsuit.

Ultimately, the court stated, "The plaintiff committed military service evasion in 2002, and this action is likely to harm the interests of the Republic of Korea under the Overseas Koreans Act and falls under the grounds for visa denial exclusion. However, this pertains to the old Overseas Koreans Act before the 2017 revision." The court further explained, "Acquiring foreign nationality for the purpose of evading military service may fall under the grounds for visa denial exclusion. However, if there is no general reason for residence after turning 38 years old, there is no reason to refuse visa issuance. Within the scope of the Overseas Koreans Act, if one has turned 38 years old even after acquiring foreign nationality, residence status is permitted unless it falls under general regulations. The decision to deny the visa only mentions the act of military service evasion itself, without any separate reason for excluding the application of the above regulation, making the denial decision illegal. This aligns with the rationale of the previous Supreme Court judgment in this case."

The court also ruled, "Apart from the plaintiff's act of military service evasion in 2002, there were no other situations falling under the grounds for visa denial exclusion. Although there were widespread public indignation regarding the suspicion of military service evasion and critical public opinion existed surrounding the domestic residence of overseas Koreans with foreign nationality, the court has an obligation to judge the matter according to the Constitution and laws. Under current laws, even if it involves military service evasion under the Overseas Koreans Act, if the individual has exceeded a certain age, residence status is permitted unless it falls under general reasons."

Meanwhile, on the 9th, Yoo Seung-jun released a video on his YouTube channel titled "From Now On, I Will Speak Directly! For Those Who Remember Me... Starting Yoo Seung-jun Q&A." While shedding tears at comments from fans who supported him, he said, "Thank you. There is no need for you to apologize to me; I am the one who should apologize." He added, "I am sorry for leaving such memories. If given the opportunity, I will strive to create only good memories."

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*This content was translated by AI.