The United States will send a special envoy to Seoul as early as this month to discuss South Korea's entry into the U.S. visa waiver program, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Tuesday.
The two sides will discuss in detail requirements for Korea to join the program as well as some technical issues such as issuance of electronic passports.
The envoy's visit follows U.S. President George W. Bush's pledge late last month to work with Congress in incorporating South Korea together with several other countries into the visa waiver program.
The United States is seeking new requirements for the program to counter the rate of visa rejections, which currently stands at 10 percent. Closer methods of monitoring will include thorough background checks on traveler information, strengthened security and equipping the system to accommodate electronic passport processing, the ministry said.
The rate of Koreans' U.S. visa rejection has fluctuated between 3 and 10 percent. The new requirements, which were approved by the U.S. Houses of Representatives and the Senate last January and March, respectively, will likely take effect soon.