S. Korea, U.S. agree to set up
Updated : 2025-10-01 13:04:08 KST
S. Korea, U.S. agree to set up business visa desk in Seoul, clarify rules after Georgia mass arrest
Hello and thanks for joining us on Arirang News. Seoul and Washington launched a bilateral working group on business visas and visits, taking the first step to ensure Korean workers involved in major U.S. investment projects can enter without disruption. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young starts us off. Seoul and Washington have agreed to clarify the rules for U.S. business visas, in a move to ensure the smooth entry of Korean professionals driving multi-billion-dollar investment projects in the United States.
----------------
The two governments launched their first bilateral visa working group in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday local time, responding to the visa bottlenecks that led to the week-long detention of more than 300 Koreans connected to a Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia last month. Of those arrested, 170 were on short-term ESTA travel visas and 146 were on B-1 or B-2 visas. While they were released after a week, their detainment was highly questionable, as U.S. State Department rules allow B-1 holders to train local staff and install equipment.
----------------
bottleneck 장애물
----------------
At the working group's first meeting, the two sides confirmed that B-1 visa holders are permitted to install, service, and repair imported equipment. The U.S. also reaffirmed that ESTA travelers are allowed to perform the same activities as B-1 holders. To remove ambiguity, both governments will soon release a joint fact sheet outlining the scope of permissible tasks. The two sides further agreed to install a "Korean Investor Desk" inside the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, to serve as an access point for Korean companies investing in the U.S., and help resolve visa issues quickly.
----------------
Direct contact points will also be established between Korean consulates and U.S. immigration agencies for close coordination. Beyond these measures, South Korea raised the need for institutional improvements.
Australia, and Singapore, for instance, have dedicated visa tracks for the entry of skilled workers to America. Washington cited immediate legislative hurdles but pledged to continue reviewing possible long-term improvements. U.S. President Donald Trump along local officials and experts have stressed the need to keep Korean workers on site, given their role in setting up massive, high-tech factories in America.
----------------
institutional improvements. 제도 개선점
dedicated visa tracks 전용 비자 코스
----------------
However, with U.S. regulations murky and many skilled workers hesitant to return to the U.S. after the mass detention in Georgia, Korean firms have raised the need for clear and reliable measures to keep America a trusted investment destination. (Stand-up) "Seoul officials in recent weeks have pressed for fundamental solutions that would enable Korean firms to deliver their multi-billion-dollar commitments to the U.S. economy. The two governments have agreed to hold another working group meeting at the earliest possible date to continue their consultations. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."
----------------
murky 어두운, 확실치 않은
press for ~을 계속 요구하다 (=demand, push for); …을 강요하다(=urge).
===========
영어 원문 출처 및 동영상 링크;
arirang news/Foreign Policy
https://m.arirang.com/news/view?id=287757
