Singer Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo) has won his latest legal battle against South Korea's visa denial, raising the possibility of his return to the country after 23 years.

Court Ruling

On August 28, the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 5 (Judge Lee Jung-won presiding) ruled in favor of Yoo in his lawsuit against the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, which had repeatedly refused to issue him a visa.

The court determined that the Ministry of Justice's internal entry ban could not serve as a valid reason for rejecting his visa application. It also stated that the harm to Yoo's individual rights outweighed the public benefit of maintaining the ban.

However, the court clarified that this ruling did not mean Yoo's past actions were deemed appropriate.

Background

Yoo Seung-jun, once one of Korea's most popular singers with hits like Scissors and Na Na Na, left the country in 2002 shortly before his mandatory military enlistment and acquired U.S. citizenship. His move sparked intense backlash and led to accusations of draft evasion.

Since then, he has been barred from entering South Korea. In 2015, at age 39, he applied for an F-4 visa (Overseas Korean status) through the LA Consulate but was denied, prompting a series of lawsuits. This is his third lawsuit — the first two ended in partial victories but did not result in a visa being issued.

What's Next?

Despite the ruling, it remains uncertain whether Yoo will be able to enter Korea. The government is expected to appeal, and the Ministry of Justice's position on maintaining the entry ban has not changed.

If upheld, this decision could mark the first step toward lifting one of Korea's most controversial celebrity bans in decades.

Would you like me to also summarize public reactions in Korea so far, or focus strictly on the legal and procedural side?