Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik on the 12th said about the return of 330 people, including Koreans, who had been detained by U.S. immigration authorities, "We did our best, but I am sorry we could not bring you home sooner." On the visa issue that caused the detention incident, the two countries agreed to discuss it in the South Korea-U.S. working group.

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, briefs at the arrival hall of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport on the 12th as Korean workers who were detained in Georgia by U.S. immigration authorities return to the country. On the left is Park Yun-ju, First Vice Foreign Minister, /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

Deputy Minister Kang went to Incheon International Airport, where a chartered flight carrying 330 people, including 316 Korean nationals, arrived that day, and said, "I came because I wanted to tell you in person that you have truly been through a lot." They boarded Korean Air charter flight KE9036, which departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States at about 11:38 a.m. on the 11th (local time), and landed on the runway at Incheon International Airport at about 3:23 p.m. that day.

Deputy Minister Kang said, "I hope the public, who watched with one heart together with the families who spent sleepless nights waiting anxiously day by day, will be able to calm their worries and get some rest," adding, "We will also look closely at psychological treatment support measures so that those who have returned can find stability in their daily lives."

He continued, "We did not find any returnees with abnormal health issues," but added, "There is one pregnant woman among the returnees, and we seated her in first class so she could rest." As for the visa issue, he said, "Individual answers are not appropriate right now," and added, "One citizen who decided to remain locally plans to apply for bail through a private attorney."

When asked whether he had obtained a "written assurance" that the returned workers would not face disadvantages when reentering the United States, Deputy Minister Kang replied, "It is what U.S. President Donald Trump said." He cited differing interpretations between the two countries regarding the "B-1 visa" (short-term business visa) as the cause of this incident. He added, "It will be further discussed in the South Korea-U.S. working group."

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