[US Investment Firm 'Visa' Challenge]⑥ US Lawmaker: "'Korean Professional Visa Act' Is a Bipartisan Proposal... Should Be Enacted Regardless of Who Wins the Presidential Election"

Michelle Park Steel U.S. Congresswoman Interview
Four Years of Legislative Work on the 'Korean Partnership Act' from First Year in Office
Positive Impact on Samsung Foundry and Hyundai Electric Vehicle Management in the U.S.
Beneficial to Both Nations' Interests... "A Bipartisan Proposal in U.S. Politics"

"The Korea Partnership Act is a bipartisan proposal. Regardless of who becomes president in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, strengthening the strategic partnership with Korea is important."

Michelle Park Steel (Republican·California), a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives who introduced the 'Korea Partnership Act,' emphasized in a written interview with Asia Economy on the 2nd that the bill must be passed even if former President Donald Trump wins the November U.S. presidential election. The 'Korea Partnership Act' proposes issuing 15,000 'E-4' visas annually, which grant Korean professionals the qualification to work for mainland U.S. companies. It has the same effect as the U.S. professional visa (H-1B). It guarantees that employees of major companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Company’s partner firms can work legally for at least six years. Domestic business circles, including the Korea International Trade Association, see the period before the U.S. presidential election as the golden time for the bill’s passage, but it is interpreted that legislative momentum will not decline even afterward.

The two-term lawmaker has been working for four years to pass the bill since she first introduced it in November 2021, her first year in office. This is the first time the lawmaker who proposed the Korea Partnership Act has given an interview to domestic media.

Michelle Park Steel (Republican·California) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Steel stressed, "Regardless of who becomes the U.S. president in the election, strengthening the important strategic partnership with Korea is crucial," adding, "The Korea Partnership Act is a bipartisan proposal."

The Korea Partnership Act Helps U.S. Industrial Stability and Checks China

She introduced the Korea Partnership Act because it benefits not only Korea but also the national interests of the United States. Korean workers must be able to work stably at Samsung Electronics’ foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plants and Hyundai Motor’s electric vehicle plants to check China and develop U.S. industry.

Especially, as illegal immigration has become a national issue in states bordering Mexico such as Texas and Arizona, she said a system that enhances employment stability for Koreans is essential. Samsung is building a foundry plant in Taylor, Texas, and Hyundai Motor is constructing an electric vehicle plant in Georgia. The logic is that creating a law recognizing Korean workers at Samsung and Hyundai as legal workers will reduce illegal immigration and increase the stability of U.S. industry.

Samsung Foundry factory site in Taylor, Texas (left), Hyundai Motor electric vehicle factory site in Georgia. [Image source=Yonhap News]

She said, "Considering the southern border crisis, illegal immigration is a serious problem," adding, "In my district (California), there are tens of thousands of first-generation immigrants who came legally, and creating a new visa program (the Korea Partnership Act) will create opportunities for more Koreans to join the U.S. workforce in important industrial sectors."

Rep. Steel said that creating the 'Korean Visa Act' would help the U.S. government check the Chinese Communist Party. She argued that the U.S. must secure excellent overseas semiconductor talent stably to respond to the rise of the Chinese economy and the Chinese Communist Party. She said, "The U.S. regards strategic economic partnerships as an important means to respond to the rise of the Chinese Communist Party," and "Through the visa program, the U.S. can secure the workforce needed to produce advanced products such as semiconductors."

Korea Is an Important Trade Partner... Law Needed Faster Than Japan and Taiwan

She said the 'Korean Visa Act' should be created faster than those for Japan, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. Rep. Steel explained, "Korea is one of the largest trade partners responsible for $222.4 billion (about 300 trillion won) in goods and services and a strong democracy," adding, "Above all, it is an important partner in a region that has become the hotbed of our most urgent international challenge, competition with China."

The Korea Partnership Act has been introduced every session since 2013. It has been pending for 11 years. Rep. Steel emphasized that both parties must unite to pass the Korea Partnership Act. She said, "Regardless of who becomes president (in the November election), strengthening the important strategic partnership will remain important," and "My colleagues and I will work to ensure the Korea Partnership Act is enacted, no matter who the president is."