Korean lawmaker Jung Chung-rae switches audit trip to Europe as US visa stays pending
In short
Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Chung-rae (정청래) had not received a US visa as of October 8, three days before a National Assembly foreign affairs committee team was due to leave to audit diplomatic missions in the Americas. Jung said the US State Department was still reviewing his official-travel visa and that he had applied to join the committee's Europe team instead. Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok expressed "strong regret" over the delay.
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Jung Chung-rae (정청래), a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, had not received a US visa as of October 8, three days before he was due to leave for the committee's audit of diplomatic missions in the Americas. Yonhap reported that the US State Department had not yet issued the visa and that Jung would move from the committee's Americas team to its Europe team. Chosun Ilbo said the specific reason for the delay had not been confirmed. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 13 ]
In a Facebook post on October 8, Jung said he had applied to the State Department for an official-travel visa and that an aide told him it remained "under continued review". He said he could not wait longer in a state that was "neither permitted nor refused" and had urgently applied to switch to the Europe team. "I don't know the reason. It is regrettable," he wrote, adding that two US working days remained for the review but he was switching given the departure schedule. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
The Americas team was scheduled to travel from October 11 to 22 to the United States, Brazil, Colombia and Canada. Its members are committee chair Song Seok-jun (송석준), Ko Dong-jin (고동진) and Kim Geon (김건) of the People Power Party, Maeng Seong-gyu (맹성규), Park Seong-jun (박성준) and Jung of the Democratic Party, and independent Han Dong-hoon. Hankook Ilbo reported that the other six had completed visa procedures or were due to travel under ESTA. Yonhap quoted a committee official as saying Jung could move because Han Jeong-ae (한정애) and Park Chung-gwon (박충권) had decided not to join the Europe audit. Asia Economy, which reported the visa as refused, said the Americas team's vacancy was unlikely to be filled. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok expressed "strong regret" on X over the visa delay for "a highly respected four-term senior lawmaker who was the immediate past ruling party leader" and hoped South Korean and US diplomatic authorities would resolve the matter quickly. Seoul Shinmun quoted a People Power Party committee member as saying they had heard the Foreign Ministry was actively negotiating with the embassy in the US. [ 4 , 7 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
Jung also failed to obtain a US visa for the 2013 audit and moved to the Europe team then; Asia Economy, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun described that as a refusal. Jung said he had audited missions in the US in 2012 and met US lawmakers there in 2014. Asia Economy, Chosun Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily reported speculation that his role in a 1989 occupation of the US ambassador's residence may have been a factor; Korea Economic Daily noted the State Department does not usually disclose reasons for individual visa decisions. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The hold keeps a member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee out of the audit of missions in the United States, and the Democratic Party leader has asked South Korean and US diplomatic authorities to resolve it quickly. Jung also failed to obtain a US visa in 2013, and the reason for the current hold has not been disclosed.
Key facts
- As of October 8, the US State Department had not issued a visa to Jung Chung-rae, a Democratic Party member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 13 ]
- Jung said the visa was "under continued review" by the State Department, neither permitted nor refused. [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- Jung applied to move from the committee's Americas audit team to its Europe team. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- The Americas team was scheduled to travel from October 11 to 22 to the United States, Brazil, Colombia and Canada. [ 3 , 9 ]
- Jung was the only member of the Americas team whose US visa was not issued. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok expressed "strong regret" on X and said he hoped South Korean and US diplomatic authorities would resolve the matter quickly. [ 4 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- Jung also failed to obtain a US visa for the 2013 audit. [ 2 , 4 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Jung had not received a US visa as of October 8. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 13 ]
- Jung is moving from the Americas team to the Europe team for the audit of overseas missions. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- Jung said he did not know the reason for the delay and called it regrettable. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- Kim Min-seok expressed "strong regret" over the visa delay. [ 4 , 7 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]
- The Americas team includes committee chair Song Seok-jun (송석준), Ko Dong-jin (고동진), Kim Geon (김건), Maeng Seong-gyu (맹성규), Park Seong-jun (박성준) and Han Dong-hoon. [ 4 , 12 , 13 ]
- Jung visited the United States for the committee audit in 2012 and visited again in 2014. [ 4 , 6 , 9 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the visa was refused or is still pending. Asia Economy reported the visa was refused; Jung and other outlets say it is withheld and still under review.
- Why the visa has not been issued. Jung and a committee official said the reason is unknown; some outlets reported speculation about his part in a 1989 occupation of the US ambassador's residence, and Korea Economic Daily said the State Department usually does not disclose reasons.
- Whether Jung's place on the Americas team will be filled. Only Asia Economy reported that the vacancy is unlikely to be filled.
- Whether the 2013 visa case was a refusal or a delay. Asia Economy, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun described it as a refusal; another Chosun Ilbo report called it a delay.
- Whether the visa could still be issued. A committee official told Newsis they would wait until October 9, while another told Chosun Ilbo there was no chance if it had not come by October 8.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports that the US refused Jung's visa. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the visa withheld and Jung's move to the Europe team. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports Jung's Facebook statement and Kim Min-seok's post on X. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reports Jung's statement that the visa is under continued review. [ 5 ]
- Yonhap updates its report on Jung's switch from the US to Europe. [ 8 ]