WASHINGTON (AFP) — Washington and Seoul signed an agreement here Friday that will allow South Koreans to travel visa-free to the United States as soon as later this year.
The memorandum of understanding on the visa waiver program was signed in Washington by US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan.
The administration of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, currently on a US visit, has been pushing Washington to relax the travel arrangements for South Koreans to reflect the half century old bilateral alliance.
"As more Koreans visit the United States, we will each have a better understanding of each other," Lee said.
Hundreds of thousands of young Koreans are studying in the United States, where there are already two million Korean-Americans.
"We should not be satisfied with this ... We should encourage even more people-to-people exchange," Lee said.
Following the MOU signing, South Korea has to implement security enhancements that could open the way for visa-free travel to the US and potential designation as a member of the US visa waiver program "as early as later this year," the Homeland Security Department said in a statement.
The program will enable South Koreans to enter and stay in the United States without visas for up to 90 days.
Among measures to be implemented by South Korea are an electronic system of travel authorization for air passengers and strengthened security measures for airports that originate flights to the United States, including permitting air marshals on certain flights.
"In our global fight against violent extremism, cooperation is paramount against a patient and adaptive enemy," Chertoff said.
"This agreement demonstrates that enhanced security can also facilitate legitimate travel, which is a win-win for both our nations."
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