Cho Hyun to Visit Washington Tomorrow for Final Talks on Release of Detained South Koreans

Expected to Seek Cooperation from the Trump Administration

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is expected to depart for the United States on September 8 to conclude discussions on the release of South Koreans detained following a crackdown by U.S. immigration authorities and to hold talks with U.S. officials to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

According to multiple diplomatic sources on September 7, Minister Cho is scheduled to leave for Washington, D.C., in the afternoon of September 8.

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Minister Cho is expected to meet with U.S. officials from the Donald Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to seek cooperation from the U.S. side in finalizing the administrative procedures for the release of the South Koreans.

The previous day, during a joint task force meeting of the Overseas Korean Protection Headquarters held at the Seoul Government Complex, Minister Cho stated, "If necessary, I plan to go to Washington myself to discuss options for direct consultations with the U.S. administration."

On the same day, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik said, "Negotiations for the release of the detained workers have been concluded," but added that some administrative procedures remain. This is interpreted as the reason for Minister Cho's direct visit to the United States to continue related discussions.

The government plans to send a chartered flight to bring the South Koreans home as soon as the remaining procedures are completed.

In addition, Minister Cho is expected to use this visit to urge the U.S. administration to pay close attention and cooperate to ensure that such an unprecedented incident does not occur again.

The crackdown conducted by U.S. authorities on September 4 (local time) at the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution plant in Georgia was the largest ever carried out at a single site. As a result of this operation, more than 300 South Koreans were arrested, with most being detained at a facility in Folkston, Georgia.

In particular, Minister Cho is expected to raise the issue that the visa problems at the root of this incident could hinder future investments in the United States, and to request that the U.S. side improve the system to address the difficulties faced by South Korean companies. Chief of Staff Kang stated on the same day, "To prevent similar cases, we will promote measures to review and improve the visa system for those traveling to the U.S. for project-related business." The government is expected to continue discussions with the U.S. side, considering all possibilities, including the creation of new visa categories for short-term dispatches related to U.S. projects and more flexible operation of the visa system.