Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a press conference with foreign media outlets, hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Seoul, on Sept. 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Korea Bizwire) —South Korea’s foreign minister on Friday sought to draw a fine line between the country’s massive investment commitments in the United States and the fallout from a U.S. immigration raid that detained hundreds of Korean workers, saying the visa dispute is not a formal condition for the projects but will be resolved before capital begins to flow.
Speaking at a press conference with foreign media in Seoul, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized that Washington’s treatment of Korean workers must be addressed if the $350 billion investment package is to proceed smoothly. The pledge, made as part of negotiations to scale back Trump administration tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, has become a litmus test of U.S. credibility for Korean businesses.
“It is not a precondition for South Korea’s investments in the U.S.,” Cho said. “But since it is a very important issue, we will do our utmost to ensure that visa problems are resolved before substantive investments begin.”
The mass detention of more than 300 workers at a Georgia factory site earlier this month rattled Korean companies, highlighting the risks of unclear visa rules. Cho said he had received assurances from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the workers would face “no problems” reentering the United States, pushing back against legal concerns that future trips could be jeopardized.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) is greeted by U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of their talks at the White House in Washington on Aug. 25, 2025. (Yonhap)
Tariff Deadlock and Trade Stakes
Cho also addressed the slow pace of tariff negotiations with Washington, making clear Seoul would not accept a return to the 25 percent duty on steel and other key exports. “The government must act quickly to ensure Korean companies do not suffer disadvantages,” he said, noting that some U.S. proposals could require parliamentary approval due to their potential burden on Korean consumers and industries.
The remarks reflect Seoul’s balancing act: pressing ahead with investments that deepen economic ties with Washington, while pushing back on protectionist measures that could erode the competitiveness of Korean firms in the U.S. market.
President Lee Jae-myung (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping
China Relations and Regional Diplomacy
Looking beyond the United States, Cho confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju next month, his first visit to South Korea in years. Cho framed the visit as a chance to “advance bilateral relations and trilateral cooperation involving Japan.”
On North Korea, Cho underscored that Beijing and Seoul still share “common ground” in pursuing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, despite concerns that China has softened its language on denuclearization. He acknowledged that the relationship with Beijing has shifted from cooperative to competitive, driven by China’s rapid economic rise, but argued that South Korea must adapt constructively.
Strategic Balancing
The minister’s comments underscored Seoul’s challenge of navigating three critical fronts at once: ensuring smooth U.S. investment flows, securing fair trade conditions in the face of American tariffs, and managing a complex, increasingly competitive relationship with China.
“President Xi’s visit, the ongoing tariff talks, and the visa issue with Washington all converge into a pivotal moment for South Korea’s diplomacy,” one Seoul-based analyst noted. “The government must show it can protect national interests while still delivering on its promises of global economic engagement.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
