Yoo Seung-jun Fans Renew Plea to Lift 23-Year Entry Ban as South Korean President’s 10-Year-Old Remarks Go Viral

Singer Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo) finds himself at the center of renewed controversy as his devoted fans once again appeal to President Lee Jae-myung to lift the longstanding entry ban against him. As a decade-old statement from President Lee regarding Yoo Seung-jun recirculates online, the fandom has responded by referencing this very comment in a fresh public plea.

On the 9th, Yoo Seung-jun’s fans, under the banner “Fans Who Love Yoo Seung-jun,” issued a statement on the DC Inside Yoo Seung-jun Gallery, urging the government to lift his entry restriction.

They wrote, “Recently, news broke that the government is considering pardons and reinstatements for politicians and public officials ahead of the August 15 Liberation Day. We sincerely hope that this spirit of tolerance and inclusion will be applied fairly to all citizens, not just politicians and officials,” formally requesting a pardon for Yoo Seung-jun.

Yoo Seung-jun has been unable to set foot in Korea for 23 years due to controversy over draft evasion. In 2002, just before his scheduled enlistment, he left for the United States, acquired U.S. citizenship, and renounced his Korean citizenship. As a result, the Ministry of Justice imposed an entry ban on him.

Since then, Yoo Seung-jun has persistently sought to return to Korea. In 2015, he applied for an F-4 Overseas Korean Visa—which would allow him to work freely—at the LA Consulate General, but was denied. He then filed lawsuits to overturn the visa denial, winning both administrative cases. However, his most recent visa application was again rejected, prompting him to file a third administrative lawsuit against the LA Consulate General and the Minister of Justice. During the second hearing of this latest lawsuit, the Ministry of Justice maintained its stance: “Entry cannot be permitted.”



Following the fandom’s statement, President Lee’s remarks from a decade ago—when he was mayor of Seongnam—have resurfaced on social media. At the time, President Lee wrote, “Someone who abandoned their country to avoid their duty to serve—what can you possibly say now?”

He continued, “Do you wish to return to Korea, a country where young people living far more difficult lives than you are still dying in tragic accidents while fulfilling their military duty? Do you need more money from the pockets of Koreans? Or have you suddenly been struck by patriotism?”

Lee added, “You enjoyed all the privileges and benefits of being a Korean—singing in our language and living as one of us—but when the time came to fulfill your duty, you abandoned Korea and chose the path of a foreigner. Should we, simply because you look Korean, grant you special treatment again and inflict further feelings of deprivation on our own citizens?”

He concluded with a pointed message: “There are already enough high-ranking officials in this country who have evaded military service by various means and flaunt their positions, causing resentment and a sense of injustice. Please, remain loyal to your new country and forget the Korea you betrayed and abandoned.”

As President Lee’s decade-old comments gain renewed attention, Yoo Seung-jun’s fandom issued another statement on the 12th. They acknowledged the spotlight on Lee’s words, but pointed out, “This year’s Liberation Day special pardon list includes cases that differ in nature from the criticisms made at that time.”

They continued, “Those who used forged documents to help their children gain unfair admission to universities and undermined the integrity of the admissions process, and those who misused donations intended for comfort women survivors—betraying the trust of both the victims and their supporters—have all been pardoned and reinstated under the banner of national unity.” The fans clarified, “We are not criticizing these decisions, but rather asking that the same principles and values be applied equally to all citizens.”

They further argued, “It is deeply unfair to show magnanimity and tolerance to politicians while holding Yoo Seung-jun, an ordinary citizen, to a harsher standard for over 20 years. To ensure the Liberation Day pardons truly embody the spirit of national unity and reconciliation, we once again urge the government to lift the entry ban on Yoo Seung-jun and allow him to set foot on Korean soil.”

Photo Credit: Xportsnews, Yoo Seung-jun

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Jo Hyejin. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.