Seoul: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has advocated for a 90-day work visa program aimed at South Korean manufacturers investing in the United States, a proposal he presented to U.S. President Donald Trump. The suggestion, revealed by South Korea’s foreign ministry, came during Kemp’s meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, expressing optimism that South Korea will strengthen economic collaboration with both the U.S. and Georgia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kemp’s visit to Seoul involved discussions with South Korean industry and government officials, occurring shortly after a significant incident involving the arrest and detention of over 300 South Korean workers from a joint car battery plant in Georgia during a U.S. immigration raid. The workers were released a week later, which led to public discontent in Korea. This prompted the South Korean government to address loopholes in the visa system concerning workers’ entry into the U.S. Consequently, both countries initiated a working group to refine visa-related issues and agreed to establish a dedicated visa desk at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul for Korean business professionals.
Kemp emphasized to Cho that he had forcefully presented the visa proposal to Trump via phone, aiming to facilitate the seamless entry of skilled workers necessary for factory construction and equipment setup. He expressed confidence in advancing discussions about the visa system, noting Trump’s awareness of the significance of ensuring the smooth entry and operations of Korean workers in the U.S.
Cho highlighted the importance of Kemp’s involvement in preventing similar incidents and stressed that ensuring the smooth entry of Korean workers and the implementation of Korean investments would benefit Georgia. Kemp assured that he would strive to avoid any recurrence of incidents like the recent one in his state.
Additionally, Cho urged Kemp to actively contribute to advancing bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea, particularly in manufacturing, supply chains, advanced technologies, and shipbuilding. Kemp acknowledged the presence of many South Korean students in Georgia and expressed a desire to further expand cooperation in these areas, according to the ministry.