대법원 "유승준 비자 발급 거부는 위법"... 다시 재판
South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that the justice ministry was wrong more than a decade and a half ago... to permanently ban a former K-Pop star from entering the country.
That's Yoo Seung-jun , who was widely considered a traitor for getting American citizenship just before he was supposed to start his military service.
The court's ruling means the singer can appeal the justice ministry's decision and possibly set his foot back in Korea again.
Lee Min-sun reports.
South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that it's illegal for the nation's immigration service... to refuse an entry visa for Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun, also known as Steve Yoo.
Yoo debuted in Korea in 1997 and was one of the country's most popular celebrities,... but found himself embroiled in a huge controversy in 2002,... for evading mandatory military service after he obtained U.S. citizenship.
The Ministry of Justice subsequently prohibited Yoo from entering Korea,... citing article 11 of the Immigration Act.
It states that the justice ministry can ban the entry... of anyone it deems highly likely to engage in activities that could undermine Korea's national interests or public security.
It's been 17 years since Yoo last set foot on Korean soil,... but the former star has been pleading with the authorities... to allow him to return to Korea and resume his career.
His visa application was turned down in 2015,... prompting him to file a lawsuit against the Korean government.
However, military service is a very sensitive issue in Korea and public sentiments regarding Yoo remain cold.
A recent public opinion survey conducted this month... showed that seven out of ten respondents were opposed to allowing Yoo's entry to the country.
Although the court ruling today does not immediately lift his travel ban,... it will allow Yoo to appeal the previous decision from the justice ministry... in hopes of securing his long-awaited return home.
Lee Min-sun Arirang News.
