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Seoul Presses U.S. Visa Fix Before Rolling Out $350 Billion Investment

The foreign minister vowed to prioritize a clear entry path for Korean technicians following the Georgia detentions.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a press conference with foreign media outlets, hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club in Seoul, on Sept. 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), speaks to reporters in Seoul on Sept. 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), speaks to reporters in Seoul on Sept. 19, 2025. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • South Korea and the United States opened working-level talks and held two director‑level meetings to launch a visa working group focused on improving entry procedures for Korean business personnel.
  • Seoul formed an interagency task force with key ministries and business lobbies to gather industry input and draft reform proposals to present to Washington.
  • More than 300 South Korean workers were detained for about a week in a raid at a Hyundai–LG battery construction site in Georgia, then released and largely repatriated after diplomatic engagement.
  • Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said visa issues are not a formal precondition for the US$350 billion investment pledge, yet he intends to ensure they are resolved before substantive spending proceeds, while rejecting a return to 25% U.S. tariffs.
  • Cho said he received assurances from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that previously detained workers will face no reentry problems, as companies press for a tailored short‑term visa for specialist technicians.