[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Seoul, Korea – In 2015, when he was the mayor of Seongnam, President Yoon Seok-youl posted a strong condemnation of Yoo Seung-jun, the singer who had become a controversial figure after obtaining U.S. citizenship and avoiding South Korea’s mandatory military service. The post, which was shared on his social media, was titled "The person who abandoned his country to avoid his duty… What can he possibly say now?"



At the time, President Yoon sharply criticized Yoo Seung-jun, asking, "Do you, Yoo Seung-jun, who abandoned the country to avoid your duty, want to return to a country where young people, facing much harder lives, die every day in gun violence while fulfilling their military service?"



He further questioned, "Do you need more money from Koreans? Or has your patriotism suddenly flared up?"



The post continued with Yoon accusing Yoo of benefiting from all the advantages of being a Korean citizen, including enjoying the country’s culture and privileges, only to abandon his homeland when it was time to fulfill his national duties. He argued that it was unfair for Yoo to be given special treatment simply because he looked like a Korean.



President Yoon concluded by pointing out the existing sense of relative deprivation among citizens, criticizing high-ranking officials who evade military service while living in luxury, saying that they were enough of an example of injustice in the country. He urged Yoo to remain loyal to the country he chose to live in and forget about South Korea.



Yoo Seung-jun, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002 to avoid military service, has been banned from entering South Korea. Despite multiple attempts to return, his entry has been repeatedly denied. Recently, fans of Yoo Seung-jun have called for his entry to be allowed, citing the 8.15 special amnesty, which has reignited the controversy surrounding his past actions.

 

 

 

 

[ⓒ 알파경제. 무단전재-재배포 금지]