Calls for protest emerge within ruling party over Jin Sung-joon’s U.S. visa issue; Hong Ki-won says response should be cautious

[Financial News] Amid calls within the Democratic Party of Korea for a protest against the United States over its refusal to issue a visa to Jin Sung-joon, chairman of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ki-won, a former diplomat, has urged a cautious response.
Hong told YTN Radio on the 30th that after committee chairman Jin shared in a group chat for lawmakers his position protesting the U.S. visa denial, some lawmakers responded, “Former party leader Jung Cheong-rae can’t get in, and neither can the current National Defense Committee chair. Isn’t this too much? Shouldn’t we protest?”
Hong said he had posted his view that “this seems to have resulted from the judgment of the U.S. visa officer handling the case and tightened visa and immigration policies, so I hope we respond a little more cautiously.”
Citing the fact that Jin’s visit to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and his high-level meeting schedule had been confirmed, Hong said, “That means the U.S. Department of Defense has given its OK,” and rejected interpreting the visa denial as a decision by the U.S. government to bar Jin from visiting the country. Hong also raised the possibility that incomplete paperwork had caused the visa issue, saying, in connection with Jin’s past imprisonment for violating the National Security Act, “They have to submit English versions of court records and the like, but apparently that wasn’t done.”
Jin had previously strongly protested the U.S. refusal to issue him an official visa, calling it “an act that disregards the stature of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and undermines mutual respect and trust, the foundation of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

[email protected] Jiwon Song Reporter