South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung met US lawmakers in New York to call for a “reasonable” trade deal. Moreover, he stressed that mass detention of South Korean workers in the United States must never happen again.
Lee met Representatives Young Kim and Gregory Meeks, and Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons. During the talks, they discussed visa policies, trade stability, and bilateral cooperation. Furthermore, US lawmakers supported initiatives to create a new visa category for highly skilled South Korean workers.
South Korea’s Lee highlighted the Georgia immigration crackdown. Specifically, over 300 South Korean workers were detained at a battery plant construction site. Therefore, he emphasized the urgent need to improve visa policies.
Lawmakers discussed the Partner with Korea Act. This bill would allocate 15,000 E-4 visas for South Koreans with specialized education or expertise. Currently, these visas are unavailable to South Korean nationals. Consequently, Lee said both countries are actively exploring ways to enhance visa quotas.
On trade matters, South Korea’s Lee emphasized commercially reasonable agreements. He also noted that ongoing tariff negotiations could create foreign exchange volatility. Additionally, he mentioned that investment pledges require supporting financial mechanisms such as currency swap arrangements.
Lee further addressed North Korea’s security issues. He welcomed the US role as a “peacemaker” and reaffirmed his commitment to support diplomatic talks. In addition, lawmakers expressed backing for Lee’s efforts on nuclear issues. They also pledged cooperation in shipbuilding, biotechnology, and defense.
Later, Lee met around 300 overseas Koreans in New York. He pledged to improve voting rights for citizens abroad. Moreover, he emphasized the need for easier access to polling stations. Lee added that he will revise current regulations to ensure overseas Koreans can vote confidently.
Lee highlighted South Korea’s transformation into a model democracy. He praised the nation’s industrial growth, cultural influence, and military and economic strength. Additionally, he stressed the importance of supporting overseas Koreans while promoting national pride.
Ahead of his UN General Assembly address, South Korea’s Lee is expected to speak about democracy, foreign policy, and international cooperation. Furthermore, he will preside over a UN Security Council debate. Thus, he becomes the first South Korean president to chair a session while the country holds the council’s rotating presidency.
