[Aju News DB]
Korean-born American singer Steve Yoo launched a legal battle Friday to nullify a ban on his entry into South Korea, claiming he had no intention to evade military service.
Yoo, who was highly popular and one of the best-selling artists in South Korea in the late 1990s, acquired US citizenship in 2002.
But he 39-year-old, known for his high-energy dancing style, rapping, and singing ability, was denied a visa to enter South Korea amid criticism that his change of nationality was aimed at evading military conscription.
Yoo, who now lives in Beijing, has filed a lawsuit, insisting the ban violated his rights.
In his first hearing on Friday, he insisted through his attorney that he should be given a visa for Koreans residing overseas because he secured US citizenship just at the request of his family, not to evade military service.
Yoo's family moved to the United States when he was 13. While staying in South Korea, he had repeatedly stated that he would fulfill his military service. But in 2002, just before he was to be drafted, he became a naturalized US citizen.
The Seoul government considered it an act of desertion and banned him from entering South Korea.
In 2008, Yoo signed a 15-year contract with Jackie Chan's entertainment management company to become an actor. He has since attempted to establish a name for himself in mainland China, while continuing his singing and acting career.
All able-bodied South Korean men aged 18-35 are required to serve in the military for about two years because the Korean peninsula is still technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice with no peace treaty signed between the two Koreas.
The military relies heavily on a compulsory service system. Exemptions are rare, with some Olympic gold medalists are not required to serve.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
