South Korea Asks US to Reconsider 4-Year Student Visa Limit, Urges Security Talks

[Anchor]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has asked the United States to reconsider its plan to limit the duration of international student visas to four years. He also urged swift consultations on amending the South Korea-US nuclear cooperation agreement and developing a nuclear-powered submarine.

Reporter Kim Hye-young is reporting from Manila, Philippines.

[Reporter]

Attending the ASEAN Regional Forum, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raised the student visa issue with US Deputy Secretary of State Allison Hooker ahead of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between South Korea, the US, and Japan.

A senior Foreign Ministry official stated that Minister Cho conveyed concerns to Deputy Secretary Hooker that limiting the period of stay to four years could increase uncertainties for South Korean students continuing their studies.

As South Korea ranks third after China and India in sending international students to the US, Cho requested a review taking South Korea's special circumstances into consideration.

Minister Cho also urged prompt discussions on revising the South Korea-US nuclear cooperation agreement and South Korea's development of a nuclear-powered submarine. The US side reportedly responded simply by acknowledging the matters.

While acknowledging that the Coupang issue and delayed investments in the US are among the reasons for the delayed security consultations, a senior Foreign Ministry official emphasized that security talks themselves are not facing disruptions, explaining that the US response to the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as domestic political schedules in the US, are acting as complex factors.

The official also assessed that the nuclear agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia would not have a significant impact on the bilateral consultations with South Korea.

The explanation was that South Korea holds a different strategic status from Saudi Arabia, meaning the same standards would not apply.

Although the government has launched all-out efforts to persuade the US on issues ranging from visas to security, attention is focused on whether tangible results can be achieved soon, given the complex entanglement of trade issues.

(Video footage taken by Cho Chang-hyun, Video edited by Kim Jin-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.