Singer Yoo Seung-jun (48, Steve Yoo) fans called on President Lee Jae-myung, who is reportedly reviewing pardons for politicians such as former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, to apply the spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness to Yoo Seung-jun as well.
Yoo Seung-jun's fans issued a statement on a fan community on the 9th, stating, "Yoo Seung-jun has been restricted from entering the country for over 20 years due to military service issues," and claimed that "the continued restriction needs to be reconsidered in light of the principles of fairness and the rule of law."
They stated, "Yoo Seung-jun has endured a great deal of criticism and sanctions over the years," adding, "This does not mean he is without fault, but he has sufficiently shouldered the social responsibilities that came with it. Now is the time to look back at the past and grant him the opportunity to live anew within Korean society."
They continued, "I hope the will for national unity and harmony demonstrated in the review of pardons for politicians such as former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk and former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is applied equally to Yoo Seung-jun, a regular citizen. I sincerely hope that the president's decision becomes a case that embodies the constitutional values of fairness and justice and serves as a catalyst for national unity."
Yoo Seung-jun, who debuted in April 1997, lost his Korean nationality after obtaining U.S. citizenship following his departure to the United States for a performance in 2002, thus evading military service. This sparked fierce criticism that he was trying to evade his military obligations, leading the Ministry of Justice to restrict his entry.
Subsequently, Yoo Seung-jun applied for an Overseas Korean (F-4) visa at the Los Angeles Consulate in 2015, but it was denied. He filed a lawsuit to have this cancellation revoked and, after a remand trial and a retrial, won in the Supreme Court.
The consulate continued to deny the visa issuance, and Yoo Seung-jun filed a second cancellation lawsuit, which he won again in the Supreme Court in November 2023. However, the Los Angeles Consulate denied the visa issuance in June of last year, and Yoo Seung-jun filed a third lawsuit in September of the same year.