[Editorial] U.S.-Korea Agreement to Prevent Recurrence of Detentions—Swift Resolution Needed for Tariff Negotiations as Well

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States (U.S.) held a meeting on the 30th of last month (local time) to prevent a recurrence of the detention of Korean workers in the State of Georgia. It was also announced that a dedicated desk for visa issuance to Korean companies investing in the U.S. will be established at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Korea. About a month after the detention incident, the issue of Korean workers’ employment in the U.S. is now nearing resolution.
During this meeting, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that skilled workers from a major investor nation like the ROK can work locally. The conflict that erupted between the two countries after the U.S. unexpectedly detained Korean workers on the 4th of last month has now subsided. The U.S. faced international criticism for detaining employees of foreign companies that had invested in its economy, citing entry qualifications.
Such incidents must never be repeated, as both countries have pledged. The ROK government must firmly remind the U.S. of this commitment. The U.S. should also implement follow-up measures to ensure that Korean workers do not face difficulties entering the country, such as streamlining relevant procedures. Currently, construction of the LG Energy Solution plant in the U.S. has been halted since the detention incident. In accordance with the recent U.S.-Korea agreement, workers should be dispatched to the site as soon as possible to expedite completion of the plant. Any delay in completion will result in losses not only for LG Energy Solution but also for the U.S.
The detention of workers by the U.S. was an unfortunate event that should never have occurred in a leading advanced nation and global economic power. It is fortunate that the U.S. has belatedly acknowledged its mistake and recognized the need for skilled Korean workers. We hope that the U.S. will guarantee the employment rights of Korean workers at other plants currently under construction as well.
Furthermore, we urge the U.S. to accept at least some of the ROK’s demands regarding its $350 billion investment and reach a compromise. It is unreasonable to pressure a country with foreign reserves of just over $400 billion to invest more than 80% of that amount. The ROK government cannot easily agree to such terms, as investing that much in the U.S. could risk a foreign exchange crisis.
The government must not make concessions to the U.S. lightly—not for national interest, but for the very survival of the nation. Persistent explanation and persuasion are needed so that the U.S. understands our position. As demonstrated in the recent visa meeting, there is no problem between nations that cannot be resolved through dialogue. As long as the U.S. remembers its status as an advanced, free nation, it will not continue to act unreasonably.
To revitalize exports and drive economic growth, we must achieve the best possible outcome in tariff negotiations. If exports falter while domestic demand remains sluggish, the ROK economy could easily slip into negative growth. Since the U.S. is our largest export market, we have no choice but to maintain close engagement. However, we must demonstrate diplomatic wisdom by upholding our dignity rather than resorting to a submissive stance.