Korean firms breathe sigh of relief after Seoul-Washington visa talks

Korean firms are preparing to normalize their investments in the United States after Washington reaffirmed that temporary business visitors holding B-1 visas, as well as those who enter through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program, can install, service and repair foreign-purchased equipment at their companies' U.S. plants. The U.S. government clarified the policy on Tuesday (local time) during the first working-level meeting with Seoul on the visa issue. The meeting was arranged after the U.S. detained more than 300 Korean workers — who mostly held B-1 visas or entered through the ESTA program — following an immigration raid last month at HL-GA Battery Company's plant construction site in Georgia, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution (LGES). “We thank the government for its prompt support,” LGES said in a statement. “In line with the recent agreement between the two countries, we will make thorough preparations to normalize construction and operations at the U.S. plant.” Hyundai Motor is considering revising its guiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times