Seoul: South Korea will consult with the United States on enhancing the visa system and creating a new visa category for Korean workers to reduce uncertainties facing Korean companies operating in the U.S., National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday. Wi made the remarks after more than 300 South Korean workers returned home following a weeklong detention by U.S. immigration authorities in Georgia -- an incident that fueled public anger and prompted Korean businesses to reassess their investment plans.
According to Yonhap News Agency, most of the detained workers at an electric vehicle battery factory construction site operated by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution had reportedly entered the U.S. on B1 business visas, issued for purposes such as meetings or contract signings, or under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). "The government will work to improve practices under the current U.S. visa system to eliminate uncertainties for our companies," Wi told reporters.
Wi emphasized the need for "urgent" attention and a "phased approach" to address the issue, noting that Seoul is considering short-term fixes, such as streamlining visa procedures, and long-term measures, while making diplomatic efforts to create a new visa quota or category for Koreans. "From a long-term perspective, we will actively pursue discussions on creating a visa quota for Koreans or establishing a new visa category through amendments to U.S. domestic law," he stated.
Additionally, Wi mentioned that Seoul and Washington agreed to seek clear U.S. guidelines on business visas, B1 visas, and ESTA to ensure consistent enforcement by U.S. law enforcement agencies. On trade, Wi remained cautious about U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's recent remarks that Seoul must accept Washington's demands or face tariffs, emphasizing that official positions exchanged at the negotiating table are more significant than public comments.
Furthermore, Wi noted that while Seoul and Washington have reached a broad agreement on security issues, the two sides are still hammering out details of a trade deal reached in late July, which lowered the planned U.S. 25 percent tariffs to 15 percent in exchange for a $350 billion investment package and other commitments. He also cited "meaningful progress" in consultations on revising the bilateral nuclear pact to ease restrictions on Seoul's enrichment and reprocessing capabilities, which are considered key to completing the nuclear fuel cycle.
"We hope South Korea will have greater room and flexibility for nuclear enrichment and reprocessing, in a framework similar to Japan's," Wi said. Currently, South Korea is allowed to enrich uranium below 20 percent only with U.S. consent and is prohibited from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. In contrast, Japan can both reprocess spent fuel and produce low-enriched uranium under 20 percent without U.S. approval. Seoul has long sought such capabilities, citing energy security, environmental needs, and export competitiveness, while Washington has been reluctant due to proliferation concerns, as reprocessing facilities can yield plutonium for nuclear weapons.