The United States Says It Is Reworking Its Visa System to Ease Korea's Concerns

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\r\n[Financial News] The United States government said it will revise its visa system to support expanded investment by Korean companies in the United States. The move is intended to ease visa-related concerns that surfaced after the mass detention of Korean workers in Georgia last year, allowing Korean capital and personnel to be deployed more smoothly in U.S. investment projects.
Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Department of State (State Department), said at a SelectUSA press conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on the 5th (local time) that "some agreements signed with the Korean government are important opportunities for Korean capital and expertise to be used in the United States for the benefit of both countries," adding that "we are making major changes to the visa system to address these concerns."
Landau said that Korean workers need to come to the United States for training and project operations, but the current visa system is not designed to adequately accommodate visitors with such special purposes.
He said he had personally visited Korea to discuss the issue after more than 300 Korean workers were detained in Georgia in September last year over visa status problems. He stressed that "strict enforcement of immigration and visa laws should not become an unnecessary obstacle to investment."
Korea is continuing follow-up talks after promising $350 billion in investment in the United States during tariff negotiations with Washington last year. Industry sources say the first project could be a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana.
However, observers have consistently pointed out that visa issues must be resolved first before large-scale investment by Korean companies can become a reality. After the Georgia incident, the two countries launched the U.S.-Korea Business Visa Working Group, and in December last year, a dedicated visa window for Korean investment companies was opened at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Korea in Seoul.
Landau also argued for a new trade balance in relations with Europe, saying that "the United States has borne too much of the burden for too long." He added that a trade agreement between the United States and India is nearing completion.
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km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter