By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
A U.S. envoy came to Seoul Monday to discuss Korea's entry into the U.S. visa waiver program with relevant officials.
Michael Chertoff, secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department, met Foreign Affairs Minister Song Min-soon, and will have detailed discussions with Kim Bong-hyun, director-general of the consular affairs on Tuesday.
``The visit is a follow-up measure after U.S. President George Bush's statement in late June that he pledged to work with Congress to include South Korea and other countries in the visa waiver program,'' a ministry official said.
The Homeland Security Department plays a very important role in the process of determining the entry of new countries to the program, the official added.
The negotiation will be focused on how Korea meets the requirements of the visa waiver program such as the introduction of electronic passports.
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 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.
Korea seeks to enter the program in the first half of next year.
Established in 1986, the program now covers 27 countries, and no country has been added since 1999.