Seoul: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Monday emphasized the importance of facilitating the entry of South Korean businesspeople investing in the United States during a meeting with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, as reported by his office. This call to action aims to prevent any hindrances that might affect the operations of South Korean businesses in the U.S.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim urged the state of Oregon to consider setting up a "Korean Desk" dedicated to handling affairs related to South Korean businesses. The prime minister highlighted the necessity of ensuring smooth entry and operations for businesspeople to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.

The prime minister's remarks followed the arrest and detention of over 300 South Korean workers during a U.S. immigration raid in Georgia in early September. The incident caused significant concern in South Korea, as those detained faced harsh conditions without clear reasons, prompting the South Korean government to address the matter with Washington. The goal is to improve the U.S. visa system for South Korean businesses to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

During the meeting, Governor Kotek acknowledged South Korea as one of Oregon's largest agricultural export markets. She expressed the state's commitment to valuing its relationship with Korea and mentioned hopes to expand cooperation in areas such as semiconductors and green energy. Kotek also emphasized the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including tourism, and requested support from Seoul in reopening direct flights between Korea and Oregon, per information from Kim's office.