South Korea PM Links U.S. Investments to Visa Resolution Amid Diplomatic Strain
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has declared a de facto suspension of financial commitments to the U.S. until visa disputes are resolved, citing recent detentions of Korean workers in Georgia as a critical friction point. The standoff threatens to undermine the $350 billion investment framework established in July's bilateral trade agreement.
Images of shackled Hyundai and LG Energy Solution employees during a Georgia worksite raid circulated widely in Korean media, triggering public outrage. While detainees were released within a week, the incident has exposed vulnerabilities in the allies' economic partnership. Kim emphasized that meaningful progress on joint ventures remains impossible without visa guarantees for Korean nationals.
