A top U.S. diplomat expressed regret on Sunday over a U.S. immigration raid, an event that led to the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers. The diplomat proposed using this incident as a catalyst to strengthen bilateral relations between the U.S. and South Korea.
In a meeting held in Seoul, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo urged Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to advance bilateral discussions on follow-up measures. These measures include the potential creation of a new visa category, as stated by the foreign ministry.
Some 300 South Korean workers, detained in a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor battery plant in Georgia, returned home to emotional reunions last Friday. This incident left an impactful impression across South Korea, a key U.S. ally.
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In an effort to avoid the recurrence of such an incident, Seoul has requested that the U.S. offer clear guidelines for existing business visas and establish a new visa category. This new category would be geared towards Korean professionals, supporting the massive investment projects by Korean businesses in the U.S.
In Sunday’s meeting, Landau advocated for Washington and Seoul to expedite working-level consultations to ensure the issuance of visas that correlate with the contributions of Korean workers. Landau noted that Korean investments play a significant role in reviving manufacturing in the U.S.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has not yet provided a comment. Minister Park labeled Landau’s visit as “timely”, given the recent raid, and quoted Landau as referencing President Donald Trump’s decision that the Korean workers would not face any disadvantages upon re-entry into the U.S.
The facts highlight the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and South Korea to address the immigration raid incident and to establish clearer visa guidelines. The public’s right to information remains a paramount concern.