Seoul : South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to address the issue of about 300 South Koreans detained in Georgia following a major immigration raid. The talks aim to secure their safe return and discuss potential revisions to US visa policies for South Korean workers.
Cho plans to meet his US counterpart on Tuesday (US time), as the South Korean nationals remain in custody at a detention center in Folkston, after being arrested during Thursday’s crackdown at a South Korean joint electric vehicle plant construction site in Bryan County, near Savannah.
Seoul has prepared a chartered flight to bring the detained citizens home this week, highlighting the urgency of the discussions. “We cannot specify at this stage what the minister will discuss with Secretary Rubio,” a ministry official told Yonhap News Agency. “But our focus is on resolving the issue of our nationals in detention and ensuring their safe return home.”
In addition to the meeting with Rubio, Cho is expected to meet US federal officials from agencies responsible for immigration policy and enforcement, such as the Department of Homeland Security. These discussions may include arrangements for voluntary departure instead of deportation and measures to prevent future entry disadvantages.
Cho is also likely to explore ways to revise US visa policy for South Korean workers, potentially including a new work visa program or increased visa quotas to support smoother operations for companies investing in the US.
Industry sources revealed that Korean Air has arranged a Boeing 747-8i for departure to Atlanta as early as Wednesday (Seoul time) to bring the citizens home. Foreign nationals among the detainees are expected to board the same flight. The government is fine-tuning departure details to allow the chartered flight to leave Atlanta on Thursday (local time).
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