Oct. 22 (UPI) — Leaders of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Business Travel and Visa Working Group met virtually on Tuesday to discuss ways to ensure continued investment in the United States.
The key meeting comes after hundreds of Koreans were detained at a Georgia Hyundai factory during a U.S. immigration raid in September. That incident was viewed by many Koreans as culturally embarrassing and one that could threaten future South Korean investments in the United States.
The Trump administration favors enabling South Korean firms to invest in the United States to spur domestic manufacturing and provide jobs for American workers, according to a State Department news release.
“The United States strongly supports investment that drives American re-industrialization, strengthens the U.S.-ROK alliance and enhances our shared prosperity,” the State Department’s office of the spokesperson said on Wednesday.
“The U.S. government continues to work closely with its ally to advance the U.S.-ROK trade and investment partnership, including by processing visas for eligible ROK visitors to continue investing in America in compliance with U.S. laws.”
President Donald Trump greets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., in August. This past month he said the raid that was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers could jeopardize future South Korean investments in the United States. File Photo by Al Drago/UPI
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Jonathan Fritz co-chaired the virtual event on behalf of the United States.
Ambassador and Government Representative for Korean Nationals Overseas Protection and Consular Affairs Jung Kihong co-chaired the virtual meeting on behalf of South Korea.
The South Korean flag flies in front of the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, in February 25. This week, leaders of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Business Travel and Visa Working Group met virtually to discuss ways to ensure continued investment in the United States. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
The virtual meeting occurred a month after the September immigration raid of a Georgia Hyundai battery plant that resulted in hundreds of South Koreans who were not authorized to work in the United States being detained and flown back to South Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sept. 11 said the raid that was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers could jeopardize future South Korean investments in the United States.
“Companies will have to worry about whether establishing a local factory in the United States will be subject to all sorts of disadvantages or difficulties,” Lee told media.
The immigration raid raised concerns in South Korea and the United States regarding the viability of South Korean companies supporting U.S.-based manufacturing. However, diplomats from both nations are working to resolve any issues that led to the immigration raid and prevent future occurrences.
Among those issues is the need to reform the U.S. visa process for foreign workers, which South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed with U.S. officials during a Sept. 12 visit to Washington.
Cho met with U.S. Sens. Bill Hagerty, Andy Kim and Todd Young over two days to discuss concerns that 475 South Korean professionals and others were arrested during the Sept. 4 immigration raid on the Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions battery plant near Savannah.
The results of Tuesday’s virtual meeting are yet to be announced.
