ISTANBUL

The US will allow South Korean workers to "install, service, and repair" the equipment needed for investment plans on short-term business visas or visa waiver programs, local broadcaster KBS World reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea's Foreign Ministry.

During the inaugural meeting of the South Korea-US visa working group, Washington agreed to allow South Korean nationals to "install, service, and repair" overseas equipment to build facilities in the US.

On Tuesday, the US officials confirmed that the existing B-1 business visa and visa-free Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program will both permit South Korean workers to conduct such activities as part of the investment process, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.

The working group was formed in response to last month's massive immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG factory in Georgia, which resulted in the detention of over 300 Korean nationals, the majority of whom had entered the country on a B-1 visa or ESTA.

The incident highlighted the lack of access to appropriate visas for specialized South Korean workers required at investment sites.

Senior State Department and South Korean Foreign Ministry officials at the meeting also agreed to set up a dedicated desk, tentatively called the Korean Investor Desk, within the US Embassy in Seoul to offer visa guidance and consultation to Korean companies investing in the US.

The ministry said the US side noted that some aspects of granting visa access to South Korea's skilled workers would be challenging due to "practical legislative constraints." The working group is scheduled to meet again soon to continue negotiations.

In July, Seoul and Washington agreed in principle to a deal under which the US reduced the tariff on imports from South Korea from 25% to 15% in exchange for Seoul's commitment to invest $350 billion in the US.