South Korea and U.S. to Launch First "Visa Working Group"... Department of Homeland Security Involved in "Arrest Operation," Calls for Congressional Support

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Proposes New Working Group in Meeting with Secretary Rubio
Discussion Likely on Separate Visa for Koreans and Related Measures
330 Workers Previously Detained in the U.S. to Arrive at Incheon Airport Around 3 p.m. Today

In response to the recent detention of Korean workers in Georgia, United States, South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to establish a new working group aimed at improving the visa system. Notably, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration policy, is expected to play a significant role in this working group, alongside the State Department. This incident has prompted both countries to redefine clear guidelines for the use of visas, and, in the long term, to discuss the creation of new visa categories and other related issues to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.

A charter flight carrying 316 Koreans who were arrested and detained by U.S. immigration authorities and later released took off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, USA, at 11:38 a.m. local time on the 11th. September 12, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A total of 330 workers, including 316 Koreans who were detained for seven days and then released, are scheduled to arrive at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport around 3 p.m. on September 12. Park Yoonju, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Consul General in Atlanta, is accompanying them on the charter flight to oversee their return. At the airport, Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, will personally welcome the workers who had been detained. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who made an urgent visit to the U.S. to resolve the situation, will also return to Korea on a direct flight from Washington, D.C., arriving around 5 p.m. that day.

It is unprecedented in the history of South Korea-U.S. relations for more than 300 Korean nationals to be arrested en masse by U.S. authorities. The shock was amplified domestically when images were released showing workers at the Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant-a symbol of the much-welcomed "investment in the U.S."-being led away in chains as if they were a group of serious criminals. Although the situation has been resolved for now, with all workers except one who chose to remain voluntarily being released and returning safely, a clear explanation from the U.S. side regarding the background of this incident remains a diplomatic issue that needs to be addressed.

There is a growing call to turn this crisis into an opportunity to improve the visa system between South Korea and the U.S. Expanding visa options for Koreans has long been a key objective for the government. This is why Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, during a meeting with Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on September 10 (local time), proposed the creation of a working group to discuss various measures, including the introduction of new visa categories. Secretary Rubio responded positively, saying, "Let's work together for swift follow-up action." Separately, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Andrew Baker also strongly agreed on the need to improve the visa system, noting, "While large-scale investments in the U.S. achieved under the Trump administration are becoming a reality, the current visa system has not supported this," and pledged to actively pursue follow-up measures.

Although a consensus on the visa working group has been reached through high-level consultations between the two countries, the specific launch date and composition have not yet been finalized. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-the agency that conducted the recent operation at the Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia-will take the lead, with participation from the State Department. Depending on the discussions, officials from other federal agencies such as the Department of Commerce may also be involved.

The working group is expected to prioritize establishing clear guidelines for the current visa system to allow employees of companies investing in the U.S. to work locally on a priority basis. This includes expanding the issuance and application scope of the short-term business visa (B1), which was at the center of the recent issue. There is also the possibility of increasing the quota for H-1B visas for professionals.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Senator Andy Kim are meeting on the 11th (local time) in Washington D.C., USA. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In the long term, there are suggestions to create a separate E-4 visa quota specifically for Korean professionals. However, this requires the passage of the "Partner with Korea Act" in the U.S. Congress, which means there are limits to what can be achieved through government-level discussions alone. In this regard, Minister Cho met with Senators Todd Young (Republican, Indiana), Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey), and Bill Hagerty (Republican, Tennessee) in the U.S., emphasizing, "Fundamental measures to prevent recurrence are urgently needed to ensure our personnel are not unfairly treated as we fulfill our investment commitments in the U.S.," and requested support at the congressional level. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the senators fully agreed that this incident should not negatively impact South Korea-U.S. economic cooperation or the promotion and implementation of Korean companies' investments, and they pledged to seek necessary institutional support, including future legislative action in Congress.