Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Asks U.S. to Reconsider 4-Year Limit on Student Visas

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun requested on July 22 that the U.S. side reconsider a plan to limit student visa stay periods to four years, according to officials.

Cho also urged swift discussions on revising the South Korea-U.S. civil nuclear agreement and developing South Korea's nuclear-powered submarines based on progress in bilateral shipbuilding cooperation.

A senior Foreign Ministry official told reporters on July 23 that Minister Cho made the request to the U.S. side during informal chats ahead of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting on July 22.
  The senior official stated that Minister Cho raised the student visa issue while speaking with U.S. Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker prior to the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting on July 22.

Minister Cho explained that if the U.S. caps international students' duration of stay to four years, it could create unpredictability and problems for South Korean male students who must complete mandatory military service to continue their studies.

Cho particularly noted that South Korea sends the third-largest number of international students to the U.S., following China and India, and requested that the U.S. consider South Korea's unique circumstances, the official explained.

Under Secretary Hooker reportedly responded along the lines of "I understand" after hearing Minister Cho's explanation.
  The senior official said Cho also mentioned to Hooker the opening ceremony of the South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center in Washington.

With Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan visiting the U.S. to attend the opening ceremony, Cho proposed taking note of progress in shipbuilding and investment while accelerating consultations in security areas.

Specifically, Cho was reported to have urged quick progress on discussions regarding the revision of the South Korea-U.S. civil nuclear agreement and South Korea's development of nuclear-powered submarines.

While Cho did not specifically mention the Coupang issue to Hooker, the official explained that Cho urged swiftly resolving various friction points between South Korea and the U.S. and reaching agreements on key bilateral issues as soon as possible.

To this end, Cho called for strengthening communication across levels among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, to which Hooker agreed, according to the official.
  The senior official stated that Cho conveyed the same pending issues to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio while walking together to the meeting venue.

According to the official, Cho explained to Rubio the student visa issue, bilateral shipbuilding cooperation, the revision of the nuclear agreement, and South Korea's nuclear submarine development.

Cho asked Rubio to be briefed on details by Under Secretary Hooker and proposed holding the next South Korea-U.S. consultation as soon as possible to continue discussions on the matters raised.

Rubio also reportedly responded to Cho's explanation along the lines of "I understand."

Although a specific date was not set, both sides shared the understanding that follow-up consultations should be held as soon as possible, according to the official.
  The senior official confirmed that issues surrounding Coupang and delays in investment projects in the U.S. are among key reasons behind delays in bilateral security consultations.

When asked if the Coupang issue and investment delays were factors, the official responded "Yes," but stressed that these are not the sole reasons for the delay in security consultations.

The official explained that various issues are complexly intertwined, including domestic political schedules in the U.S., such as the upcoming midterms in November, as well as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Regarding the security consultations agreed upon in the joint fact sheet, the official said, "It is not a red light," adding, "We can move forward well according to the original objective."
  The official also explained the background behind Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-hwa's recent return to South Korea for consultations with related government agencies.

The official said Minister Cho had requested Ambassador to China Roh Jae-hun to travel to ministry headquarters for consultations about three weeks ago, and requested Ambassador Kang to do the same in a similar context.

This was intended to allow Ambassador Kang to convey voices from Washington while consulting with relevant ministries on pending issues between South Korea and the U.S., including Coupang.

The senior official noted that rather than meeting the U.S. side with only briefing materials, it was also effective for Ambassador Kang to return with a detailed understanding of the laws and principles under which the South Korean government responds to pending issues.
  Regarding the outlook on potential new U.S. tariffs, the senior official said, "Honestly, it is difficult to predict what will happen with tariffs."

Ambassador Kang has also been meeting various figures in the U.S., but conveyed the position that the tariff issue is hard to predict, according to the official.

However, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan is reportedly carrying out consultations with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick relatively smoothly.

The official explained that the U.S. side views the opening of the South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center very positively, and South Korea has also shared its investment plans with the U.S. side.
  Regarding the impact of the recent civil nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on South Korea-U.S. nuclear discussions, atmosphere within the Foreign Ministry suggests it will be limited.

The senior official said, "It will have little impact," adding that the signing of the U.S.-Saudi agreement is "unlikely to have either positive or negative effects" on South Korea-U.S. talks.

The official explained that South Korea, as a core ally of the U.S. requiring cooperation across various fields amid U.S.-China strategic competition, cannot be placed in the same category as Saudi Arabia.

However, the official added that details need to be examined further regarding whether the U.S.-Saudi agreement leaves a path open to uranium enrichment to some degree.
  The senior official stated that Minister Cho, during his remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), explained the South Korean government's position seeking dialogue with North Korea, and added that he felt regret upon seeing the empty seat for North Korea opposite him.

The official noted that although North Korea did not attend the ARF for a second consecutive year, it does not mean opportunities for dialogue with North Korea have vanished, stating that from the U.S. perspective, there could be various opportunities in the future, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

However, with the war in the Middle East ongoing, the official evaluated that the likelihood of events such as a summit with North Korea taking place in the near future seems difficult at present.
  The senior official stated that Cho said during his ARF remarks that illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia causes problems for regional security and must stop immediately.

However, Cho did not directly discuss the North Korea-Russia military cooperation issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The official said Cho met Lavrov in a hallway and shook hands, but did not have any substantive conversation.

Lavrov had already left his seat when Cho delivered his remarks on North Korea-Russia military cooperation, the official explained.

Cho also did not meet separately with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the meetings.

The official said Wang left early, preventing a separate contact with Cho, but noted that both sides are coordinating dates for Wang's visit to South Korea in August.
  Regarding the South China Sea issue, the official projected that tensions with related countries will continue as long as China's maritime activities persist.

The official noted that several countries delivered remarks marking the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration ruling.

However, ASEAN member states did not take a completely aligned stance in a single direction, the official explained.

Countries including the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines made relevant statements, and South Korea also stated its position in accordance with basic principles.

The senior official stated, "As long as China continues its active maritime activities regarding the South China Sea as it does now, we expect tense relationships with related countries to persist."
  Regarding the issue of Chinese missile launches, the official stated that the South Korean government continues to closely monitor the situation.

The senior official explained that South Korea's position was conveyed taking into account relations with China, among other factors.

The official added that South Korea continues to monitor the issue while expressing an appropriate level of concern.

However, the official noted that the U.S. and South Korea do not necessarily agree on the exact same level of phrasing to issue identical statements.
  During the South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting, sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz or specific contributions by South Korea were reportedly not discussed.

The senior official stated, "The discussion did not go that far" at the trilateral meeting.

However, concerns were expressed regarding the potential resumption of war in the Middle East, along with expectations for a constructive role by the U.S., the official explained.

Not only South Korea but also Japan expressed positions to the same effect, according to the official.
  Regarding observations that the Myanmar military junta might be heading toward international recognition, the senior official stated that things have not advanced to that point yet.

While noting that whether to recognize the Myanmar military junta is also an issue for ASEAN, the official pointed out that the Myanmar military junta's foreign minister was unable to attend the latest meeting as chief delegate, explaining that time will be needed to work out a compromise on the issue.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.