The US has agreed to ease visa coordination for South Korean workers after a raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, though broader visa reforms remain stalled in Congress.
00:00The United States has agreed to allow South Korean workers to continue setting up facilities at investment sites under existing temporary visas at the high-level meeting in Washington.
00:12The move comes weeks after a major immigration raid at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia sparked outrage in Seoul, with hundreds of South Korean workers detained.
00:22Seoul's foreign ministry said U.S. officials reaffirmed that South Korean workers can install, service and repair equipment at U.S. projects, including those in the electric vehicle sector.
00:36A dedicated visa section will be opened at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and a new channel will link American immigration authorities with South Korean missions to improve coordination.
00:47However, U.S. officials gave no new concessions on Seoul's push for a specialty visa category for skilled workers, citing legislative constraints.
00:59U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stressed the critical role of South Korean companies in America's economy, calling the country one of the top foreign investors.
01:09South Korea has long pressed for such changes, but efforts have stalled in Congress amid domestic immigration debates.
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