US Embassy says CIA doesn't handle visas as Yoon supporters call pro-impeachment celebs 'anti-US'

'US strongly supports freedom of speech regardless of one’s political opinions'

By Lee Hae-rin, Lee Hyo-jin

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said the CIA is not involved in immigration matters related to Korean nationals following a wave of online complaints targeting celebrities who voiced support for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.

Some Yoon supporters have filed complaints targeting celebrities from K-pop stars to comedians, accusing them of holding "anti-American" views to bar their entry into the United States.

They believe that the celebrities’ open endorsement of the opposition-led impeachment of Yoon reflects "anti-American views" — a narrative commonly held by far-right conservatives. These conservatives assert that impeachment advocates are "anti-American," seemingly because they oppose Yoon, who has pursued pro-U.S. policies and antagonized North Korea.

They also say that reporting these celebrities to U.S. intelligence agencies could restrict their ability to travel to the United States in the future.

"The U.S. Embassy is aware of Korean media reports that some South Koreans are claiming to have filed complaints with the U.S. government against other South Koreans who may have expressed support or opposition to impeachment," the embassy told the Korea Times in a statement on Friday.

“Visa and immigration matters are handled by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and intelligence agencies are not responsible for adjudicating U.S. visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applications."

It added, “The United States strongly supports freedom of speech regardless of one’s political opinions."

Among those targeted are singer IU, K-pop group NewJeans and comedian Kim Min-kyo.

Some of these Yoon supporters said online that they reported IU and NewJeans to the CIA for providing food to their fans who participated in the impeachment rally in Seoul.

IU's agency said the singer preordered 100 pastries, 100 drinks, 100 bowls of "gomtang" (beef bone soup), 100 bowls of rice soup and 100 rice cakes at restaurants and coffee shops in Yeouido, Seoul, where the impeachment rally took place on Dec. 14.

NewJeans also said the group had preordered food for some 560 participants of the Dec. 14 rally in Yeouido, including 110 "gimbap" (Korean rice rolls with various ingredients), 250 drinks, 100 bowls of "samgyetang" (ginseng chicken soup), 50 bowls of warm beef soup and 50 bowls of dumpling soup.

The “CIA reporting movement” of far-right conservatives also took place in 2016 during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, when they also accused celebrities and politicians who supported the impeachment of having anti-U.S. views.

Meanwhile, Yoon is facing an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court trial for his botched martial law on Dec. 3, with a ruling expected in the coming months.