SEOUL: A high US diplomat expressed remorse on Sunday (Sep 14) over an immigration raid within the state of Georgia that detained hundreds of South Korean workers and proposed making the occasion a turning level to strengthen bilateral relations, South Korea stated.
In a gathering in Seoul, First Vice International Minister Park Yoon-joo urged Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to push ahead bilateral discussions on follow-up measures, together with a brand new visa class, the international ministry stated in a press release.
Some 300 South Korean staff returned home to cheers and emotional reunions on Friday, per week after being detained within the large immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor battery plant – an occasion that despatched shockwaves throughout South Korea, a key US ally.
“Deputy Secretary Landau expressed deep remorse over the incident and proposed utilizing it as a turning level to enhance the system and strengthen the South Korea-US relationship,” the ministry stated, including that Landau stated President Donald Trump had “excessive curiosity” within the case.
After the raid, Trump had advised that the Koreans keep within the US in the event that they wished, and the negotiations with US officers have been easy, South Korea’s high safety adviser stated on Friday.
To forestall the recurrence of such an incident, Seoul has known as on the US to offer clear tips for present enterprise visas and create a brand new visa class for Korean professionals to help large funding tasks by Korean companies within the US.
In Sunday’s assembly, Landau known as for Washington and Seoul to hurry up working-level consultations to make sure the issuance of visas commensurate with the contributions of Korean staff, noting that Korean investments assist rebuild manufacturing within the US, the ministry stated.
The US Embassy in Seoul couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
Park known as Landau’s go to “well timed” within the wake of the raid, the ministry stated, quoting Landau as mentioning President Donald Trump’s determination that the Korean staff wouldn’t face any disadvantages after they re-enter the US.
