Washington: South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday. The meeting, rescheduled from its original date, will primarily address the situation of hundreds of South Koreans detained during a recent U.S. immigration raid in Georgia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Embassy in Washington announced that Cho and Rubio's meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. (local time). This gathering coincides with the planned departure of the detained Koreans, who are to return home via a chartered plane under "voluntary departure" status, as opposed to being deported.
The immigration raid, conducted last Thursday, resulted in the arrest of more than 300 Koreans at an electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Bryan County. The site is part of a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. U.S. authorities reported that those arrested were working illegally, including individuals on short-term visas that prohibit employment.
In discussions with Rubio, Cho is anticipated to seek U.S. cooperation in ensuring that the detained Koreans do not encounter future entry restrictions or other disadvantages. Additionally, Cho may emphasize the necessity for the U.S. to consider introducing a new work visa or establishing visa quotas for skilled Korean workers, facilitating stable investment and business operations for Korean enterprises in the U.S.
The reason for the rescheduling of the meeting from Tuesday to Wednesday remains unclear. In a related event in July, Seoul's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac visited the U.S. for discussions with Rubio but was unable to meet him in person, resulting in a subsequent phone conversation.