The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) held a U.S. visa seminar on the 29th at The Forum, IFC, Yeouido, Seoul. The aim was to review the overall system, including U.S. visa categories and application procedures, and to discuss the various practical challenges that domestic corporations face when entering the United States and response strategies.
AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim said in a welcome address, "The recent enforcement case in the state of Georgia once again showed that corporations must understand the U.S. visa system accurately and comply with it thoroughly," and added, "If new systems such as the K-visa (Korean-only E-4 professional employment visa) are introduced, Korean talent will be able to operate more freely, which would serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. economic partnership."
The keynote was delivered by attorney Jeong Man-seok of Dayang Immigration Law Firm on the theme "Visa strategies under the new U.S. administration." He introduced recent changes in U.S. visa policy, customized strategies by corporation, and major denial cases, while emphasizing the need to establish a Korean-only E-4 professional employment visa included in the Partner with Korea Act.
The bill allocates 15,000 visas annually to Korean professionals. While major U.S. partner countries such as Japan (E-1/E-2) and Singapore (H-1B1) already have dedicated visas, critics note that Korea, despite being a major investor, still lacks a separate system.
The panel discussion, moderated by Chairman James Kim, featured former U.S. Representative Kwanza Hall, Kim Eun-jung, Washington correspondent for Chosunilbo, Lee Jong-geun, CEO of Hanyang ENG, and attorney Jeong. The discussion covered the impact of the Georgia enforcement case on the corporate environment and investment sentiment, the limits of a subcontracting-centered labor structure that does not align with the U.S. visa system, and government-level countermeasures and legislative tasks.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a video congratulatory message that he would work to resolve visa issues and support domestic corporations in actively conducting business in the United States.
Deputy Secretary Landau said, "Investments by Korean corporations play a key role in President Donald Trump's vision for America's future," adding, "The United States is deeply grateful for the scale and ripple effects of these investments and is well aware that investments can only succeed if the groundwork is laid for Korean corporate executives to come to the United States, share their expertise, and train local workers."