South Korea Seeks to Resolve U.S. Visa Issues Before Advancing $350 Billion Investment Package

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Friday that the government will work to resolve visa problems facing Korean workers in the United States before moving forward with a $350 billion investment package under the bilateral trade agreement.

His remarks followed a recent U.S. immigration raid at Hyundai Motor’s battery plant in Georgia, where hundreds of South Korean workers were detained.

Most of the workers returned to South Korea last week, but the incident has prompted companies to call for a new visa category that would make it easier for skilled Korean employees to help set up new factories and train American workers.

Still, Cho clarified at a press conference in Seoul that visa policy is “not a precondition” for South Korea’s investment in U.S. strategic industries.

He also said he expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit hosted by South Korea at the end of October.

Returning from a visit to Beijing this week for talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Cho said he conveyed South Korea’s interest in enhancing cultural cooperation with China during the APEC meetings.

China has maintained restrictions on importing Korean entertainment content, including K-pop, for nearly a decade in protest against the U.S.-led missile defense system deployed in South Korea. Beijing argues that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system’s powerful radar could penetrate its airspace, straining bilateral relations.