LG Energy Solution Vows to Normalize U.S. Factories Following Korea-U.S. Visa Activity Agreement

B-1 and ESTA Clarified at First South Korea-U.S. Working Group Meeting
"Grateful for Support"... Mitigating Workforce Risks in Georgia

LG Energy Solution has issued an official statement regarding the results of the first meeting of the "Business Visit and Visa Working Group" agreed upon by South Korea and the United States. The company stated, "We are grateful for the government's swift support," and added, "We will thoroughly prepare and make every effort to normalize the construction and operation of our factories in the United States."

Korean workers who were arrested and detained by U.S. immigration authorities were returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 12th of last month. The released Koreans set foot on their homeland eight days after being arrested and detained at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery joint factory in Ellabell, Georgia, U.S., on the 4th of last month. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

On October 1, LG Energy Solution released this statement following the meeting of the South Korea-U.S. Business Visit and Visa Working Group, which was held in Washington, D.C. on September 30 (local time). This meeting was organized to clarify business visit procedures and address challenges faced by businesspeople after Korean workers were recently detained over visa issues at a battery joint venture factory in Georgia.

During the meeting, the delegations from both countries agreed to clearly define the scope of the B-1 short-term business visa to include equipment installation, inspection, and maintenance activities, and to allow the same activities for users of the visa waiver Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This establishes an official interpretation standard for visa categories to prevent incidents like the recent situation in Georgia from recurring.

Additionally, the two sides agreed to establish a "Korean Investor Desk" (tentative name) within the U.S. Embassy in Korea, which will be dedicated to providing consulting services on business visas for Korean companies. Going forward, this working group will build a cooperative system among the U.S. Embassy in Korea, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and will discuss further measures to resolve additional challenges.

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