ROK VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SHIN ON VISA WAIVER,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001985

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ABLD CVIS OEXC KS
SUBJECT: ROK VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SHIN ON VISA WAIVER,
WEST INITIATIVE, NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: During a courtesy call by the Ambassador
October 6, Second Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo
described the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as an example of an
area of strengthening ROK-U.S. ties. He said that MOFAT's
Consular Affairs Bureau planned to start a public relations
campaign both online and using advertisements in advance of
Korea's entry into the program. The VFM also expressed
confidence in both the security and popular acceptance of
Korean e-passports, issuance of which had commenced in August
in order to qualify for VWP. Regarding the Work English
Study Travel (WEST) program, VFM Shin emphasized President
Lee's personal interest in the initiative's success and said
that identification by the U.S. side of high-quality agencies
able to find good work opportunities for applicants would be
key to the program's effectiveness. The ROKG, he added, was
considering providing financial assistance for low-income
WEST applicants. The Ambassador suggested short-term
exchanges involving returned Peace Corps volunteers might be
another way to further enhance bilateral person-to-person
ties. VFM Shin expressed understanding of post's desire to
finalize agreements allowing for the construction of the New
Embassy Compound at the Camp Coiner site and pledged to
continue to do what he could to encourage progress. END
SUMMARY.

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MANAGING VWP EXPECTATIONS
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2. (C) Ambassador Stephens made a courtesy call on ROK Second
Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo on October 6 at MOFAT.
Welcoming her by stating that her arrival in Seoul was "good
news for bilateral ties," VFM Shin told the Ambassador that
U.S.-ROK relations had been smooth under the Lee Myung-bak
administration. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) was an example
of an area of strengthening bilateral relations, he said,
adding that he hoped Korean travelers would be able to start
visiting the U.S. without visas beginning in early 2009 as
anticipated.


3. (C) Told that post was thinking about how best to manage
expectations about Korea's entry into VWP, VFM Shin said that
MOFAT's Consular Affairs Bureau was also planning a public
relations campaign both online and using advertisements to
"expose Koreans to the true meaning of the VWP." Geared to
prevent misunderstandings about the program, the PR effort
would, for example, stress that visas will continue to be
necessary for travel to the U.S. for educational or work
purposes. VFM Shin said the campaign might also address
misperceptions about information exchanged as part of the
program. The Ambassador assured the VFM that post would
likewise do what it could to ensure the public is
well-informed about VWP.


4. (C) The Ambassador having brought up a local news article
about the security of personal information in Korea's new
electronic passports, VFM Shin said the passports were very
secure and expressed confidence that the majority of Koreans
would accept them. The ROK began issuing e-passports in
August to meet one of the requirements for VWP entry. While
there were bound to be questions from the public about the
security of personal information in the e-passports, he
continued, the fact that citizens were concerned with holding
the government accountable was a sign of a healthy democracy.
In response to a question from VFM Shin about whether the
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be
ready to handle the new VWP travelers as scheduled, Consul
General Julia Stanley said the Department of Homeland
Security had made assurances it would by the end of the year.

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GOOD AGENCIES, OPPORTUNITIES CRITICAL TO WEST SUCCESS
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Turning to the Work English Study Travel (WEST)
program, VFM Shin described how President Lee had taken a
personal interest in the initiative, directing MOFAT to draw
up concrete implementation plans. Inter-agency meetings had
subsequently produced a roadmap for the program. The VFM
emphasized that the ROKG wanted the U.S. side to identify
capable agencies able to find good work opportunities for
program applicants. This would be key to the success of the
program, he said.


6. (C) VFM Shin listed several ways in which he thought the
WEST program would have a positive impact: 1) It would
provide young Koreans with the opportunity to learn English,
2) it would allow for a more effective means of learning
English (i.e. immersion in a working environment),and 3) it
would ensure person-to-person bonds between Americans and
Koreans are perpetuated in future generations. The ROKG was
E

considering providing financial assistance to low-income WEST
applicants, VFM added, to supplement the money they would
earn while on the program.

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RPCV EXCHANGES?
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7. (C) The Ambassador suggested to VFM Shin that short-term
exchanges involving returned Peace Corps volunteers who had
served in Korea may be another way to enhance bilateral
exchange at the person-to-person level. Such exchanges might
allow RPCVs to return to Korea, the Ambassador said, and do
collaborative work, perhaps, with Koreans in common
professions.

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NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for President
Lee having raised the issue of the New Embassy Compound (NEC)
location during her meeting with him earlier the same day
(ref SEOUL 001957). VFM Shin indicated that he was quite
familiar with the issue, having tried to engineer a
breakthrough on the matter earlier in another assignment. He
pledged to continue to do what he could to encourage progress
toward finalizing the Camp Coiner site for the NEC.
STEPHENS