President Lee Jae-myung on the 2nd met with a U.S. Senate delegation and said, "Including a package of investments in the United States, please have the U.S. Senate actively support advancing concrete cooperation in key areas agreed by the two leaders last year, such as the peaceful use of nuclear energy, nuclear-powered submarines, and shipbuilding."
Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing the same day that "President Lee in the afternoon at the Blue House received a U.S. Senate delegation composed of Republicans and Democrats, including Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."
Kang said President Lee and the U.S. delegation exchanged in-depth views on the Korea-U.S. alliance and the Korean Peninsula issue, as well as the security and economic repercussions of the Middle East war and response measures, and agreed that it is important for Korea and the United States to communicate closely as they respond to the ensuing economic fallout.
He said, "President Lee highly evaluated that the Korea-U.S. alliance, which has continued to develop for more than 70 years, has evolved into a 'future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance' that encompasses advanced technologies and strategic industries beyond security and the economy."
The U.S. delegation said, "To revive U.S. shipbuilding and manufacturing, it is important to strengthen strategic cooperation with Korea, a key ally," adding, "We will actively support at the congressional level the swift implementation of the matters agreed by the leaders of Korea and the United States last year."
That day, President Lee said, "For strategic investments in the United States to proceed smoothly, shocking incidents like last year's detention of Koreans in Georgia must not recur," and emphasized, "Efforts to improve the U.S. visa system must accelerate so that the residence conditions of Korean workers in the United States can be guaranteed more stably."
In particular, he also asked for special attention and support from the U.S. Congress so that the "Partner with Korea Act," which centers on creating a new employment visa for Korean professional personnel, can pass Congress.
Kang said, "The U.S. delegation agreed with this and said they will pay attention to and actively look after the visa issues of Korean workers, including the Partner with Korea Act."
Attending the meeting were Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Curtis, Sen. Thom Tillis, and Sen. Jacky Rosen.