Senior diplomats from South Korea and the United States met to discuss implementing their joint summit agreements and enhancing cooperation on US visa matters for South Korean workers. The talks involved Park Jong-han, Deputy Foreign Minister for economic affairs from South Korea, and Jonathan Fritz, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Fritz’s visit to Seoul was aimed at further discussions on US visa reform to support Korean workers entering the US.
The meeting was crucial as Seoul sought to reassure Washington about its commitment to a USD350 billion investment in the US, following concerns raised by US President Donald Trump regarding tariff hikes for South Korea. Deputy Minister Park emphasized the government’s dedication to carrying out the follow-up actions from the South Korea-US summits, emphasizing the need for continued close communication between the two countries’ diplomatic authorities.
During the visa working group discussions, the US introduced a new criterion for “specialized trainers” applying for short-term B-1 business visas, aiming to provide clarity on visa eligibility. South Korean businesses had expressed challenges due to unclear US visa regulations, causing confusion among employees traveling to the US for business purposes. Both sides also deliberated on facilitating Korean investors in conducting their US investments smoothly, particularly in sectors like shipbuilding and strategic industries.
