By UPDATE: Make sure to head over to Brian’s site where he has a whole lot more on this Visa Waiver issue.
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I will believe this when I see it happen:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Monday that consultations on South Korea joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with the United States were on schedule with the goal of concluding them by the year-end.
Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young denied a newspaper report that the VWP for South Koreans would likely be delayed due to differences between the two countries over ways of sharing the criminal records of tourists.
“The two countries are discussing the issue with the aim of conclusion by the end of this year. We’ve not heard anything from the U.S. (on a possible delay of Seoul’s inclusion in the VWP),” Moon said.
The report said the U.S. government wants to conclude VWP talks with seven East European nations, including the Czech Republic, by late December before winding up negotiations with South Korea, which have stalled due to different positions on the sharing of criminal records. The U.S. authorities have informed their South Korean counterparts of this position, according to the newspaper.
Some South Korean lawyers claim that sharing the criminal records of citizens is in violation of basic human rights, while Washington insists it is one of the basic standards to be met by those countries wanting to join the VWP to help protect American nationals and interests from terrorists or criminals who have committed felonies. [Korea Times]
Does anyone know why Korea does not want to share criminal histories? I do find that quite interesting considering how the Korean government is requiring English teachers in Korea to provide criminal background checks to teach in Korea.
This latest issue is just the latest in a long line of delays preventing Korea from getting Visa Waiver status with the US.
3:20 pm on September 22nd, 2008 1
I do believe that I read a story the other day, that the number of illegal Koreans in the USA is real high. Why give them Visa Waiver ? They haven't earned it yet.
3:32 pm on September 22nd, 2008 2
Koreans have yet to prove their worth, so yes, they have not deserved this special privilige as of yet.
To not share criminal histories??? Stikes me as very peculiar…considering the level of Korean organized crime that goes on in the states…i.e. prostitution.
8:18 pm on September 22nd, 2008 3
It's just typical Korean hypocrisy. As already mentioned, they want English teachers to do it, but they don't feel they have to do the same because, well, they are South Korean.
I believe there are about 230 000 illegal Koreans in the US alone. If the US went after them like they go after foreigners in Korea, one can just image the carnage.
Maybe Americans should go around video taping Koreans suspicious activities or put signs up saying the are being watched. Oh wait, that's gotta be a violation of basic human rights. It only works in the ROK. Nevermind…
9:40 pm on September 22nd, 2008 4
I don't think Koreans present a big criminal problem for the US. The waiver program is a good thing for both sides. It should reduce the number of "illegal"
stays in the US ad give us better control over who is here legally.
9:48 pm on September 22nd, 2008 5
Just released. The flood gates are opening for the flood of "Work, English Study, Travel (WEST) Program." Hmmm…wonder how many happy hookers will be in this bunch. In Australia, many of the Korean hookers are down there to supposedly study English. But if legit, how many will become illegal aliens at the expiration of their J-1 visa. This is an exchange program —
— that American students rejected so that they could become slave labor teachers at Korean schools.
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The WEST (Work, English Study, Travel) Program
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the WEST (Work, English Study, Travel) Program and expansion of other reciprocal exchange opportunities on September 22 in New York. During their most recent summit in August 2008, President George W. Bush and President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea discussed plans to create new bilateral opportunities for young Americans and Koreans to learn about each other’s country by working, studying, and traveling abroad. The WEST Memorandum of Understanding is the result.
The WEST program is an innovative exchange program that will allow up to 5,000 qualifying university students and recent university graduates from the Republic of Korea to enter the United States for a period of 18 months on J-1 exchange visitor visas that will allow them to study English, participate in internships, and travel independently. Participants will devote at least 450 classroom hours to structured English language training and coursework focusing on American business practices and business procedures, U.S. corporate culture, and general office management issues. The program will be coordinated by the private sector under the auspices of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. This program will be launched in 2009.
The Government of the Republic of Korea intends to establish an eighteen-month Working Holiday Program (WHP) under which participants from the United States can pursue work, study, and travel opportunities in Korea.
The WEST program and its governing Memorandum of Understanding reflects the future-oriented nature of the U.S. – Korea alliance by providing students from the United States and the Republic of Korea with a unique opportunity to develop foreign language skills while gaining professional experience in the international work place. This program will enable the American and Korean people to share their values while increasing their international understanding. As President Bush said in Seoul, “I believe the best foreign policy for America is for people to get to know our country firsthand.”
Authority for the Exchange Visitor Program derives from the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act The purpose of this act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.
11:08 pm on September 22nd, 2008 6
[...] protect American nationals and interests from terrorists or criminals who have committed felonies. HT to ROK Drop on this one. To use South Korea’s Ministry of Justice’s words:I just don’t understand why [...]
12:48 am on September 23rd, 2008 7
If you've ever been on a run to Japan you've experienced a VWP visa-less entry. They don't require you to provide a criminal history, and I couldn't find any details. What are the criminal record reporting checks, aside from the self-reported "I don't have a criminal record" checkbox?
4:23 am on October 5th, 2008 8
concidering that korea is the fith biggist (and grownig) group of visitors in the united states a visia waver program would most likely help the annual growth, and increase rev. from the koreans who spend a little over a billion a year on travle to the united states