Steve Yoo, a Korean American singer better known as Yoo Seung-jun, has harshly criticized a ruling party lawmaker for submitting a bill to ban entry of those who have given up their South Korean citizenship before fulfilling their required military service, as the lawmaker called it “the law to prevent the next Yoo Seung-jun.”
“Am I a political prisoner, public enemy or murderer? Am I a child rapist? I wonder why Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea is making a big deal out of my case,” Yoo said on his YouTube channel. “I want to ask Kim whether he has nothing better to do while working as a politician.”
Yoo, 44, has been banned from entering South Korea since 2002, when he became the subject of public criticism after giving up his South Korean citizenship to allegedly dodge military service, a highly sensitive topic for the country that is still technically at war with North Korea.
When submitting the bill, Thursday, Rep. Kim said the new law was designed to prevent young men's evasion of military service through renunciation of their South Korean citizenship.
“Many young men have been dejected over the unfair reality. I hope that the new law will make young people feel pride in their military service,” Kim said.
Yoo refuted this, saying, “Young people have been dejected and enraged because of the corruption of two-faced politicians such as Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, not because of me.”
Choo has faced controversy over her son's preferential treatment received during his military service, while Cho and his family have faced a series of allegations including falsification of academic achievements and illicit business activities.