Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin noted on the 8th that there is a rough agreement with the U.S. side to ensure there will be no further disadvantages even if more than 300 of our citizens who were detained at the battery factory construction site in Georgia are released.
During an urgent inquiry at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in the National Assembly that day, Minister Park responded to a query from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Yong-sun, asking, "Has there been an agreement to ensure there will be no additional disadvantages regarding entry into the U.S. for the workers?" by saying, "A rough consensus has been reached with the U.S. side."
Minister Park said, "We are on the verge of final confirmation, and to prevent any disadvantages that could arise from re-entering the U.S. based on visa types or residency status, we have reached a broad agreement with the U.S."
When asked, "Will they face a ban on entering the U.S. for five years if they are immediately deported or effectively leave voluntarily?" Minister Park responded, "I am conveying that negotiations are progressing in a direction contrary to that."
During this visit to the U.S., Minister Park announced plans to commence negotiations on visa-related matters with the U.S. side, stating that all negotiation options will be pushed forward, including an expansion of the E-4 visa for skilled Korean workers and the quota for professional employment visas.
He also explained after meeting with LG Energy Solution that he understood there is a necessity for Korean workers because it will be difficult to employ local Americans until the construction of the factory is completed.
Minister Park is reportedly leaving Incheon International Airport that evening to hold discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others in Washington, D.C.