Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
US Embassy in Korea launches dedicated desk to support corporate travelers after Georgia raid
Korean workers who had been detained by U.S. immigration authorities arrive at Incheon International Airport, Sept. 12, eight days after being arrested at a Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Ga. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon
By Lee Hyo-jin
Embassy speeds up visa processing as Washington tries to ease Korean investment fears after mass detention episode
The U.S. Embassy in Korea launched a dedicated support desk to assist Korean companies investing in the United States, Friday, a move that follows the detention of more than 300 Korean workers at a battery plant construction site in Georgia in September.
The Korean Investment and Travel (KIT) Desk is designed to streamline visa processing and reduce entry problems for corporate travelers heading to U.S. project sites, according to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The launch ceremony was attended by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina and Kevin Kim, the acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul.
Located on the first floor of the U.S. Embassy, the KIT Desk operates through cooperation among the State Department, Commerce Department, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Dedicated staff have already been assigned to support Korean companies.
The desk has been operating on a trial basis since October, and has reportedly focused on providing support to major conglomerates with large investment plans in U.S., including Samsung, Hyundai, SK, LG and Hanwha.
"The establishment of the KIT Desk underscores the embassy’s commitment to welcoming and encouraging Korean investment that supports American reindustrialization, strengthens the U.S.-ROK Alliance, and enhances shared prosperity," the embassy said in a statement.
This initiative is one of the key outcomes of two rounds of Korea-U.S. working-group meetings on visa issues, held on Sept. 30 in Washington and Oct. 22 via video conference.
The working group was formed following an unprecedented immigration raid at a construction site for a Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery joint venture in Georgia, where more than 300 Korean workers, most of them subcontractors, were taken into custody. They were released after about a week following frantic negotiations between Seoul and Washington.
This episode triggered public anger in Korea and raised concerns that it could dampen Korean companies' investment in the U.S. The U.S. administration has since agreed to improve visa systems to address those concerns.
"Through close communication with the U.S. side, we have improved the overall visa system," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. "One major improvement is that all business travelers for Korean companies investing in the U.S., including subcontractors, can now apply for visas together through an integrated process."
Previously, employees of large companies and their subcontractors had to apply for visas separately, and subcontracted workers often faced stricter scrutiny. In some cases, they were denied entry upon arrival.
Korean workers at a Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant, who had been detained at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Folkston, Ga., are released on Sept. 11. Korea Times file
Under the new system, major Korean investors will consult with the U.S. Embassy on the personnel they need and file group visa applications including subcontractors.
Another improvement is the addition of detailed annotations on B-1 visas issued to Korean workers. These notes specify that the holder is a legitimate worker, list the Korean company for whom they work for and state the project's expected completion date.
Such detailed annotations are reportedly a special measure offered only to Korean travelers.
"We have repeatedly requested fundamental improvements from the U.S. side during working-level meetings, including establishing a visa system tailored for Korean investment projects and amending relevant U.S. laws. However, such legal revisions require approval from the U.S. Congress, beyond the authority of the administration," the ministry official said.
"These new measures are the maximum possible progress within the scope that does not require legislative change," he added.
The latest developments follow the U.S. government's decision last month to increase its capacity at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to process more business visas for Koreans, aiming to conduct more than 5,000 additional interviews above normal levels. This decision is said to have been made independently, not at the request of the Korean government.