Trump proposes bringing Korean battery experts to train US workers
Remarks follow Georgia factory raid, highlight visa challenges for Korean firms amid pending E-4 visa legislation
U.S. President Donald Trump, regarding the immigration authorities’ raid on the Hyundai Motor·LG Energy Solution joint battery factory in Georgia, the state, which led to the detention of over 300 Koreans on the 4th of last month, said:
If this country does not have personnel knowledgeable about batteries, we should help them by bringing in some of their workforce to train our personnel to perform complex tasks such as battery manufacturing, computer manufacturing, or shipbuilding.
The dispatch of Korean personnel for initial technology transfer and on-site stabilization has long been a pressing need for our companies, and it remains to be seen whether this incident will lead to groundbreaking institutional improvements and an expansion of visas for Koreans.
Trump, after watching the men’s final at the US Open Tennis Tournament in New York and returning to Andrews Joint Base near Washington, D.C., responded to reporters’ question, “Do you think U.S.-Korea relations will become tense?” by saying, “No,” and “We have a very good relationship with Korea.”
He, added:
There was an interesting incident in Georgia, and I heard about it.
“We will review the entire situation,” and “There are many industries we do not have. We need to exchange personnel.”
Trump, explained:
The way to cultivate personnel is to bring in those skilled in the field, have them stay for a certain period, and receive their help,” and emphasized,We must devise a plan to bring in experts and train our citizens so that they (Americans) can do it themselves.
Trump’s remarks are interpreted as a commitment to resolve the institutional issue of visa shortages despite South Korea’s massive investments in the U.S. Many of our companies have entered Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, which are not major urban areas and have long suffered from the hollowing out of key U.S. industries, making it significantly challenging to hire skilled personnel willing to work with long-term responsibility. Numerous companies frequently dispatched employees from Korea through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which exempts visa applications for short-term tourism and business trips of up to 90 days, or the short-term business (B-1) non-immigrant visa. However, such practices have been halted since the emergence of the Trump administration, which has aggressively pursued anti-immigration policies.
Trump, stated:
I will review this because I fully understand what they (Koreans) have said.
If the visa system is expanded, future cooperation in the shipbuilding industry between South Korea and the U.S. could gain momentum.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social,
Trump, wrote,
Following the immigration raid on the Hyundai battery factory in Georgia, I urge all foreign companies investing in the U.S. to respect our immigration laws,
while, adding,
We welcome your investments.
We encourage you to legally bring in highly intelligent talents with excellent technical skills to produce world-class products.”
He, continued,
We will ensure you can do so swiftly and legally,” and “What we require in return is that you hire and train American workers.”
Trump, stated:
We will work hard not only to make our country productive but also to become closer than ever.
The U.S. allocates annual professional visa quotas by country to five nations with which it has signed free trade agreements (FTA): Mexico and Canada (unlimited), Singapore (5,400 people), Chile (1,400 people), and Australia (10,500 people). Despite being an FTA partner, South Korea has no quota and must apply for the professional employment (H-1B) visa, which issues around 85,000 visas annually (including 20,000 for holders of master’s or doctoral degrees from U.S. universities). However, due to a random lottery system, South Korea is limited to approximately 2,000 visas per year. Currently, a bill proposed by Republican Congressman Young Kim, a Korean-American, to establish up to 15,000 E-4 professional employment visas is pending in the U.S. Congress. As the bill aims to grant visas allowing foreigners to work in the U.S., American politicians face difficulties championing this initiative amid the pervasive “America First” atmosphere. There are also assessments that the South Korean government’s lobbying efforts toward U.S. political circles have been relatively insufficient.
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Trump proposes bringing Korean battery experts to train US workers, source
