US visa setbacks for ruling party lawmakers raise alliance concerns

Two Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers faced U.S. visa problems ahead of planned official visits, prompting criticism and concern about trust between Seoul and Washington. Rep. Jin Sung-joon said his visa was refused before a delegation’s planned visit to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, while Rep. Jung Chung-rae had to change his parliamentary inspection itinerary to Europe after his visa decision was delayed. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called the delays undesirable and said he would ask Washington to expedite the applications. The Foreign Ministry said Jin’s application had not been conclusively closed.

Jin chairs the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, and the delegation was due to meet Adm. Samuel Paparo.

Jin said he had visited the U.S. Pacific Command as a defense committee member in 2014.

Washington had not publicly explained the reason for Jin’s visa decision.

Cho made his remarks before departing for Atlanta to attend a Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

The National Intelligence Service said some employees’ U.S. visa applications had been delayed, not rejected, and denied any impact on intelligence cooperation.

Published Oct 29, 2026 3:59 pm KST

Updated Oct 29, 2026 5:29 pm KST

Visa delays disrupt parliamentary trips as Seoul seeks swift resolution

National Assembly's National Defense Committee Chair Rep. Jin Sung-joon speaks during a parliamentary audit of the Army headquarters and other military agencies at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, Oct. 19. Yonhap

Recent U.S. visa problems involving two lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have drawn criticism over how Washington treats representatives of a key ally.

The issue comes as relations between Seoul and Washington hit "turbulence," as described by U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel, following a series of differing opinions over matters including the timeline of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, joint military exercises, the projects making up Korea's $350 billion investment commitment, intelligence sharing and Korea's regulations on American firms such as Coupang.

Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the DPK, chair of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, said he received a visa refusal notice ahead of a planned visit to the country from Sunday to Thursday. The delegation, Jin and lawmakers from other parties, was due to visit the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and meet its commander, Adm. Samuel Paparo.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, Jin called the decision an affront to the Assembly.

“It disregards the standing of Korea’s National Assembly and undermines the mutual respect and trust that form the foundation of the U.S.-Korea alliance,” he said, as the visa refusal obstructed the official work of lawmakers representing the Korean public.

He has a past conviction under the National Security Act and was engaged in an anti-American movement as a student activist in the 1980s. However, he visited the U.S. Pacific Command as a member of the defense committee in 2014. Washington has not publicly explained the reason for the latest visa decision.

Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea questions Unification Minister Chung Dong-young during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the Inter-Korean Dialogue Office in Jongno District, Seoul, Oct. 7. Yonhap

Jin's case followed a similar one involving Rep. Jung Chung-rae, a former DPK leader, whose visa issuance had not been decided before his planned departure. He eventually had to change his parliamentary inspection itinerary to Europe. He, too, had not encountered visa problems in the past, although he was also involved in anti-American movement as a student.

“This is something both ruling and opposition lawmakers should raise with the U.S. in a bipartisan manner,” Jung said during a parliamentary audit on Monday.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called the visa delays “undesirable” Thursday and said he would ask Washington to expedite the applications.

“Although this has nothing to do with Korea-U.S. relations, it is undesirable, and I intend to ask the U.S. side to ensure that our lawmakers’ visas are issued promptly,” Cho said before departing for Atlanta to attend a Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

The foreign ministry said Jin’s visa application had not been conclusively closed and that it has been working closely with U.S. officials for cooperation in official visits.

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul did not respond to The Korea Times' emailed request for comment on the issue.

A senior government official warned that repeated incidents could further damage trust between Seoul and Washington.

“Relations between the two countries are already facing difficulties, and incidents like these could further erode mutual trust,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“I see this as a warning sign. If things go further, the alliance could face much more serious friction. We need to manage the relationship carefully before it gets worse.”

The minor opposition Progressive Party took a harder line Thursday, calling the visa problems “a clear violation of sovereignty and a diplomatic affront.”

“This is nothing more than an arrogant attempt by the U.S. to bring Korea into line,” the party's spokesperson Lee Mi-sun said, demanding an explanation and apology from Washington.

The visa problems have also raised concerns about possible disruptions to future parliamentary exchanges on defense and security issues.

Separately, some National Intelligence Service employees have faced delays in obtaining U.S. visas. The agency said their applications had not been rejected and denied any impact on intelligence cooperation with Washington.

两名韩国民主党议员在计划正式访问美国前遭遇签证问题，引发外界批评，并引发对首尔和华盛顿之间信任关系的担忧。议员晋成俊表示，他的签证在代表团计划访问位于夏威夷的美国印太司令部之前被拒签；而议员郑正来则因签证审批延迟，不得不将原定的国会视察行程改为前往欧洲。外交部长赵显铉称这些延误令人遗憾，并表示将要求华盛顿加快审批速度。外交部则表示，晋成俊的签证申请尚未最终结案。

金是国会国防委员会主席，代表团原计划会见海军上将塞缪尔·帕帕罗。

金表示，他曾在2014年以国防委员会成员的身份访问过美国太平洋司令部。

华盛顿方面尚未公开解释金某签证决定的原因。

赵承熙在启程前往亚特兰大参加二十国集团外长会议前发表了上述讲话。

美国国家情报局表示，一些雇员的美国签证申请被延迟，而非被拒绝，并否认对情报合作造成任何影响。

发布于2026年10月29日下午3:59（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月29日下午5:29（韩国标准时间）

签证延误扰乱议员出访，首尔寻求迅速解决

10月19日，韩国国会国防委员会主席金成俊议员在忠清南道鸡龙市鸡龙台出席对陆军总部及其他军事机构的国会审计听证会并发表讲话。（韩联社）

最近，两名来自韩国执政党共同民主党（DPK）的议员遭遇美国签证问题，引发了人们对华盛顿如何对待其重要盟友代表的批评。

正如美国驻韩国大使米歇尔·斯蒂尔所描述的那样，首尔和华盛顿之间的关系陷入了“动荡”，此前双方在一系列问题上存在分歧，包括战时作战控制权（OPCON）移交的时间表、联合军事演习、韩国3500亿美元投资承诺的项目、情报共享以及韩国对Coupang等美国公司的监管。

韩国国会国防委员会委员长、共同民主党议员秦成俊表示，他原计划于周日至周四访问韩国，但在访问前收到了签证拒签通知。秦成俊与其他政党的议员组成的代表团原计划访问位于夏威夷的美国印太司令部，并会见司令萨缪尔·帕帕罗海军上将。

金在周三的Facebook帖子中称该决定是对国会的侮辱。

“这无视了韩国国会的地位，破坏了构成美韩同盟基础的相互尊重和信任，”他说，签证拒签阻碍了代表韩国民众的议员们的公务工作。

他曾因违反《国家安全法》而被定罪，并在上世纪80年代作为学生积极分子参与了反美运动。然而，他于2014年以国防委员会成员的身份访问了美国太平洋司令部。华盛顿方面尚未公开解释此次签证决定的原因。

10月7日，在首尔钟路区朝韩对话办公室，执政党共同民主党议员郑正来在国会外交统一委员会的议会审计中质询统一部长官郑东荣。（韩联社）

金的案例与前朝鲜民主主义人民党（DPK）议员郑正来的情况类似。郑正来原定的出行计划因签证问题尚未获批而受阻，最终不得不将国会视察行程改为前往欧洲。尽管他学生时代也曾参与反美运动，但此前从未遇到过签证问题。

郑在周一的国会听证会上表示：“这是执政党和反对党议员都应该以两党合作的方式向美国提出的问题。”

韩国外交部长赵显周四称签证延误“令人遗憾”，并表示他将要求华盛顿加快签证申请的审批速度。

“虽然这与韩美关系无关，但这令人遗憾，我打算要求美方确保我方议员的签证能够尽快发放，”赵在启程前往亚特兰大参加二十国集团外长会议前说道。

外交部表示，金某的签证申请尚未最终结案，并一直在与美国官员密切合作，寻求在正式访问方面的合作。

美国驻首尔大使馆没有回复《韩国时报》就此事发出的电子邮件置评请求。

一位高级政府官员警告说，此类事件反复发生可能会进一步损害首尔和华盛顿之间的信任。

这位不愿透露姓名的官员表示：“两国关系已经面临困难，此类事件可能会进一步削弱互信。”

我认为这是一个警示信号。如果事态进一步恶化，联盟可能会面临更严重的摩擦。我们需要谨慎处理这段关系，以免情况变得更糟。

周四，反对党进步党采取了更强硬的立场，称签证问题“明显侵犯了主权，是对外交的冒犯”。

“这不过是美国企图迫使韩国屈服的傲慢行径，”该党发言人李美善表示，并要求华盛顿方面做出解释和道歉。

签证问题也引发了人们对未来议会就国防和安全问题进行交流可能受到干扰的担忧。

此外，一些国家情报局雇员在申请美国签证时遇到了延误。该机构表示，他们的申请并未被拒绝，并否认这会对与华盛顿的情报合作造成任何影响。