Korea stresses need to improve US visa issues for Korean investors for bilateral cooperation

Jung Ki-hong, left, ambassador for public diplomacy, attends a forum titled "Navigating Uncertainties: The Evolving Future of ROK-U.S. Relations" in Washington D.C., Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A senior Korean diplomat has stressed the need to improve U.S. visa issues for Korean companies investing in the United States, calling such efforts essential for keeping the momentum in bilateral cooperation, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Jung Ki-hong, ambassador for public diplomacy, made the remark during a meeting with Michael DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, in Washington on Tuesday (local time), the ministry said in a release.

The two sides discussed ways to support the stable operations of Korean businesses in the U.S., including carrying out follow-up measures agreed after more than 300 Korean workers were arrested and detained in a U.S. immigration raid in Georgia in early September.

The incident has led the two countries to form a bilateral visa working group to address challenges faced by Korean businesses entering the U.S.

Separately, Jung also met with Sarah Rogers, under secretary of state for public diplomacy, and discussed efforts to strengthen cooperation on exchanges and other public diplomacy projects, both bilaterally and in a trilateral framework with Japan, the ministry said.