Korea-U.S. FTA

Direct flights between Honolulu and Seoul

Korea was added to the U.S. visa waiver program in 2008.  Now Kushibo (over at Monster Island) passes on reports that Hawaiian Air will begin direct flights between Honolulu and Seoul: Hawaiian Air to launch direct service to Korea.  This, he thinks, is related to the extension of the waiver program and will result in additional economic growth in Hawaii.  Kushibo says he has other visa-waiver-related posts in the Monster Island pipeline; that's something to look forward to.

U.S. Approves Visa Waiver for Korea!

On Friday the Bush Administration announced that visa waivers would be extended to seven more countries, including South Korea: Bush: South Korea, six others, get visa waivers:

US President George W. Bush announced Friday that citizens of South Korea and six other US allies would enjoy visa-free travel to the United States beginning about one month from now....

The Dong-A Ilbo editorial writer thinks its about time ([Opinion] U.S. Visa Waiver Program ):

The inequality in travel visas between Korea and the United States will be removed soon. U.S. President George W. Bush has announced Korea’s inclusion in the U.S. visa waiver program, allowing Koreans to travel to the United States for up to 90 days visa-free from January at the latest. Since 1981, Korea has allowed Americans to visit Korea with no visa for 15 days and extended the period to 30 days in 1999. Thus the inclusion of Korea in the U.S. visa waiver program is a welcome measure that properly reflects the longstanding Korea-U.S. alliance.

The U.S. visa policy toward Korea has been somewhat offensive. Washington has long included Japan and Singapore among 27 countries in the visa waiver program, while excluding Korea for its high rate of visa rejection. No matter what the criteria are, Koreans suffered discriminatory visa treatment. Whenever long lines for visa applications formed at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the favorable impression of the United States in the eyes of Koreans eroded. It is also a matter of national status and pride in that visa exemption status means Koreans are considered eligible tourists with no danger of illegal stay....

Visa Waiver Agreement

The U.S. and Korea reached an agreement on U.S. visa waivers for Korean citizens: MOU signed to allow South Koreans visa-free travel to US (AFP, April 18):

Beef Concessions for Visa Waivers?

Kim Yon-se reports that President Lee may offer to open Korea's beef market in exchange for Korean access to the U.S. visa waiver program: Lee to Link US Beef Import to Visa Waiver (Korea Times, April 16):

Korean Passport Debates

Electronic passports are a requirement if Korea is to qualify for the U.S. visa waiver program.  However, the Chosun Ilbo reports that National Assembly debates over electronic passports may hold things up: Passport Wrangles Cast U.S. Visa Waiver into Limbo (Feb 20):

The Significance of the Visa Waiver Issue

January's Congressional Research Service report on the Korea-U.S. trade agreement has an appendix on the visa waiver issue, and its relationship to the FTA: The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications (January 22, 2008):

Alaska looks forward to visa waivers for Koreans

Bob Tkacz reports that Alaska should benefit from visa waivers that may be issued to Koreans soon under legislation passed last summer: Visa waiver program offers Alaskans chance for Korean tourists (Alaska Journal of Commerce, December 30, 2007). 

What should Alaskans expect, and how should they prepare:

Hawaiians Plan Ahead for Korean Visa Waivers

Short term visitors to the U.S. from a number of countries can get visa requirements waived.  But not Korea.  That may change soon - not as a direct result of the trade agreement - but as a result of legislation passed last summer. 

This should be good for Hawaii (The Next Waive. Potential Visa Waiver Could Increase Korean Visitors Five-Fold , Cathy Cruz-George, Hawaii Business).

Korea and the visa waiver program

During the two weeks leading up to June 29, the U.S. and Korea met to discuss changes sought by the U.S. to comply with new trade negotiation guidelines from the Democratic Congress.  Final agreement was reached on Friday, June 29, in time for signing of the agreements on Saturday the 30th.

I haven't found the text of the final agreement, or seen much detail on the changes to it, or the side-agreements, agreed to on 29th.  The U.S. sought tighter labor and environmental conditions, and could offer less restrictive conditions on generic drugs.

Moreover (Additional KOR-US FTA Negotiations Concluded , DongA Ilbo,June 30):

The U.S. promised to help Korea be included in its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and it will not raise the issue of Korean pharmaceutical companies manufacturing generic drugs for 1.5 years after the trade agreement goes into effect.

In the meantime, George W. Bush, the U.S. president, will reportedly announce a statement on June 30 (local time) that his government will proactively entertain the possibility of including Korea as one of the beneficiaries of its VWP.

On Saturday, the day the agreement was signed, President Bush did call on Congress to include Korea in a visa waiver program (Bush pledges effort for Korea's visa waiver, urges Congress to ratify Korea FTA (The Hankyoreh, June 30):

U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday pledged to work with Congress to include South Korea and others in a visa waiver program (VWP) while urging lawmakers to ratify the just-signed free trade agreement (FTA) with the Asian nation.

In a released statement, Bush recalled his announcement in November seeking modifications to the VWP to offer it to Central and Eastern European nations and other allies including South Korea.

"I am committed to continuing to work with Congress to produce legislation that would strengthen our country's security by implementing this initiative," he said.

It is in U.S. interests to facilitate travel to the U.S. while preventing terrorists from exploiting such benefits, he said.

The statement came just after South Korea and the U.S. signed the FTA, starting a process of removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to goods and services flowing between the two countries.

Established in 1986, the VWP currently covers 27 nations. No country has been added to the program since 1999, and efforts to expand it have been discouraged following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Although the visa program is not a part of the FTA, the South Korean government has been pressing Washington for inclusion when negotiating the trade pact.

The U.S. also pledged to provide visa quotas for professionals, allowing specialists to work in each other's country. It would be similar to a program already in place between the U.S. and Australia, under which 10,500 such visas are issued annually.

South Korean officials said they would seek a bigger quota than for Australia, but need to work out measures to cross-recognize certificates....