National Security Office Deputy Minister Wi Seong-rak said on the 12th at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery plant in the state of Georgia in the United States, regarding the incident in which more than 300 Korean nationals were arrested and detained by U.S. immigration authorities and then released, "In the long term, we will actively consult on creating a Korean visa quota or creating a new visa through amendments to U.S. domestic law."
At a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan that day, the Deputy Minister said, "To resolve the problems revealed by this situation, we need to improve the current visa system and establish a new visa category," making the remarks above.
Emphasizing a phased approach, the Deputy Minister first said, "We will confirm the U.S. government's clear guidelines on the B1 visa and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which our employees mainly obtain, and consult with the United States so that U.S. law enforcement agencies can enforce the law consistently in accordance with them."
He also mentioned supplementing systems to streamline entry procedures to a level that businesspeople can feel. He said they would seek flexible ways to shorten visa issuance times, reduce reasons for visa denials, and verify visa categories, among other methods.
Regarding the plan to secure a separate visa for Koreans in the long term, he said, "It is not easy because it requires the consent of the U.S. Congress, but we intend to actively consult," adding, "Minister Cho Hyun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed the establishment of a working group involving relevant departments during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that day."
The Deputy Minister explained, "It is clear that among the instructions issued by President Trump was the guideline to 'figure out what to do with the visa system so that situations like this do not occur between Korea and the United States,'" adding, "Accordingly, the discussion of a working group is emerging, and the U.S. response is positive."
Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who visited Incheon Airport to greet workers returning that day, also said, "We plan to push for improvements to the U.S. visa issuance and residency qualification system, including a plan mentioned by President Trump to create a new visa."
Regarding the "Korea Companionship Act" (creating an E-4 visa quota for Korean professionals), which did not pass the U.S. Congress despite lobbying by the Korean government, he said, "It is a long-standing task and we intend to pursue it," while also noting, "The Trump administration's immigration policy has become much stricter, and because it is a legislative matter, it is indeed not easy." He added, however, "An incident like this has improved the environment for us to make our case."
Meanwhile, when asked whether Korea could demand an apology from the United States over the large-scale detention of persons, the Deputy Minister said, "From the early stages of the situation, we conveyed positions to the U.S. side such as 'it is regrettable' and 'we are concerned,' and in various communications we fully conveyed the problems caused by U.S. enforcement actions and issues of culture and sentiment," adding, "Our intent was communicated to the U.S. side and likely influenced the final decision."
The Deputy Minister also added, "The consultation process after the initial stage was not so negative," and "The United States listened to us, and in the end, it went further, with President Trump giving guidance close to our position."