Foreign Minister: "Georgia Incident Unrelated to Special Prosecutor.. Will Start Visa Negotiations"

[Financial News] Cho Hyun, the Foreign Minister, denied any connection between the arrest of over 300 of our nationals at the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant construction site in Georgia, U.S., and the special prosecutor's search of the U.S. military base.
Minister Cho stated at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee urgent inquiry that day, in response to questions from lawmakers about the connection between the Georgia incident and the special prosecutor's search, "There is no connection at all."
The Internal Affairs and Special Prosecutor searched the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, last July. Although the target was the Central Air Defense Control Center (MCRC) of our Air Force, controversy arose because it is a base used jointly with the U.S. Forces Korea. President Donald Trump expressed regret about this before the Korea-U.S. summit last month, raising suspicions that the Georgia incident has a 'retaliatory' nature.
Minister Cho emphasized, "It has been revealed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had planned this long ago, and the Osan Air Base issue is unrelated as President Trump commented 'I understand' during last month's summit."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is known to have been preparing for the crackdown at the Georgia battery plant construction site months before the Osan Air Base search took place. President Trump also stated that he understood the search situation and announced plans to prepare visas for our companies' investment personnel in the U.S. after the Georgia incident.
Minister Cho is heading to the U.S. to negotiate the visa arrangements mentioned by President Trump. The foreign authorities have been requesting the establishment of a professional visa quota from the U.S. Congress, but have only received lukewarm responses. They plan to strongly demand this in light of the Georgia incident. He also announced plans to ensure that the detained personnel can re-enter the U.S. soon.
Minister Cho said, "We have negotiated to ensure that those who were detained and return will not be restricted from re-entering the U.S., and I plan to start negotiations for professional visas during my visit to the U.S. as a result of this incident," adding, "I will negotiate for everything possible, including the E4 visa exclusively for Korean professionals."

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yunho Reporter