Cho Hyun Diplomacy "Will Solve Visa Issues... Establishing a Director-Level Consultative Body Between Korea and the U.S."

[Financial News] Cho Hyun, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on the 12th regarding the visa issues between Korea and the U.S., which are pointed out as the cause of the mass detention of Koreans by U.S. immigration authorities, "We have agreed to establish a director-level working group between the U.S. Department of State and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to solve the visa issues."
To resolve the detention incident of Koreans at the Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution battery plants in the U.S., Minister Cho, who visited the U.S., returned through Incheon International Airport on this day, stating, "We will fundamentally solve this issue," and mentioned this. Minister Cho conveyed that the director-level meetings between the two countries for solving the visa issues "will be established as soon as possible."

Minister Cho stated that in the director-level consultative body between the two countries to solve the visa issues, "We will proceed with creating a new visa category and establishing a separate desk at the U.S. Embassy in Korea so that those involved in corporate investment-related work in Korea can receive visas as quickly as possible." Among these, he particularly added, "The separate desk within the U.S. Embassy in Korea is expected to be established soon." The new visa category is interpreted as the establishment of a separate visa (E-4) quota for Korean professional personnel.
When asked whether the U.S. side showed consensus on clarifying the visa guidelines for short-term business B-1 visas for business purposes, Minister Cho explained, "Including such matters, we have decided to discuss creating a new category, establishing a quota, and various measures to easily obtain visas within the working group."
Regarding the possibility of non-cooperation from other departments such as immigration authorities, which emphasize the crackdown on illegal immigrants, on visa issues, he answered, "There was a special directive from President Trump," and "I don't see it that way." 
Minister Cho said, "I deeply regret the hardships experienced by over 300 of our citizens who just returned," and "I demanded that there should be no issues related to visas when they come to work in the U.S. again, and received a definite answer from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio." He stated that when asked if there was any documented agreement between the diplomatic authorities besides Secretary Rubio's definite answer, "There was no need for that. Since it is a matter agreed upon with Secretary Rubio, it will definitely be adhered to."
Minister Cho stated, "(For citizens going to the U.S.) regardless of what visa they receive, we will consult with the U.S. side to prevent such incidents from happening again."
Meanwhile, Minister Cho added that he "strongly protested" regarding the U.S. immigration authorities handcuffing and escorting our citizens. 

ehcho@fnnews.com Eunhyo Cho Reporter