[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES' VALUABLE ALLY--SOUTH KOREA

                                 ______


                              HON. JAY KIM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 2, 1995

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask all of my colleagues to 
support my efforts to further enhance and solidify our commitment to 
one of the United States' most valuable allies--South Korea. Today I 
have introduced legislation which will have a positive economic impact 
in the United States--especially in the tourism industry. My 
legislation calls upon the inclusion of South Korea in the Visa Waiver 
Pilot Program [VWPP]. Specifically, it waives the requirements of 
section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing South 
Korea to be included in the VWPP for a 1-year trial basis after which 
the Secretary of State and Attorney General will have the authority to 
determine the continued participation of South Korea in this program.
  My reasons for introducing this legislation are twofold: First, the 
current situation at the U.S. Embassy's Consular Affairs office in 
Seoul is embarrassing and unacceptable. This problem stems from two 
counter-acting forces--the lack of sufficient space and personnel in 
the Consular's Office and the ever increasing number of South Korean's 
request of nonimmigrant, visitor visas.
  Currently, the Consular's Affairs office in Seoul is under-staffed, 
over-worked and unable to meet the demands of reviewing over 2,000 visa 
applications per day. This unfortunate situation has resulted in 
extremely long lines of potential tourists and businessmen to the 
United States who are growing more and more impatient, annoyed and 
disheartened with the way they are being treated. While these long 
lines may not be something new for consular affairs offices throughout 
the world, the inhumane treatment of the people in those lines is.
  During a recent trip to South Korea, I personally witnessed the most 
shameful treatment of human beings. One potential tourist, in search of 
a visa as part of his honeymoon plans, told me that he had been waiting 
in line for 3 days. Three days. He had come all the way from the 
southern end of South Korea, since the United States does not have any 
other consular affairs offices in Korea. Another woman, who appeared to 
be in her thirties, explained her frustration at having to stand 
outside during a thunderstorm because there is no shelter from the 
elements available. I was personally ashamed, as I suspect many of 
colleagues would have been by these tales of inhumane treatment.
  These are but two examples of the growing frustration and 
disappointment many South Koreans are vocalizing, which has resulted in 
a growing sentiment of discontent with the United States. They rightly 
point out that this is no way for friends to treat friends. If we are 
to retain our place in the hearts of the Korean people we must do 
something to reverse this trend. In that regard, I feel it is important 
that we begin to treat the South Korean people with more respect by 
extending to them our trust and support through their inclusion in the 
VWPP.
  My second reason for introducing this legislation is pure economics. 
Currently, South Korea is the sixth largest trading partner with the 
United States. This has resulted in total U.S. exports equaling over 
$14 billion with a cumulative direct investment of over $1 billion by 
United States companies in South Korea. This ever growing market has 
allowed for a continued growth in personal incomes for the South Korean 
people. The net result has been an increased demand by Korean tourists 
to visit the United States.
  According the Travel and Tourism Administration, South Korean 
arrivals are expected to reach over 600,000 in 1995, up an astonishing 
900 percent from the 1987 levels. Of the over 400,000 South Korean 
travelers who came to the United States in 1993, 35 percent came for 
vacations or holidays with another 35 percent coming to visit friends 
or relatives. Most of such travel has been to California, New York, 
Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida. With an estimated $1 billion in potential 
tourism dollars to spend, it is easy to see the importance of promoting 
easier access to the U.S. tourist market which has experienced 
considerable losses over the past few years. Simply put, more Korean 
tourists equals more business and jobs in the United States.
  My home State of California is a perfect example of how important 
tourism is to the United States. According to the California Division 
of Tourism, California's travel and tourism industry generates $55.7 
billion annually, which is 6.5 percent of the gross State product. 
Overall, California would rank eighth in terms of international tourism 
as a separate nation, ahead of Switzerland, Singapore, Mexico, Canada, 
and Japan.
  On a more national front, travel and tourism is the third largest 
employer in the Nation after business and health services. In fact, 
travel exceeds the combined payrolls of the U.S. steel and motor 
vehicles manufacturing industries. Between 1983 and 1993, travel-
related employment and payroll has steadily increased--with payrolls 
nearly doubling and the number of jobs rising 38 percent. These kinds 
of numbers only further the argument that travel and tourism will 
double in size over the next decade, resulting in more job 
opportunities for people throughout the world. The United States must 
work to ensure its place in the travel and tourism industry by opening 
our doors to an economy which has been growing continuously over the 
past decade--South Korea. America has always been the first choice of 
destination for almost all Koreans.
  However, under the current situation of long lines and endless 
delays, many Koreans are fed up with waiting and are going instead to 
Canada--which has a waiver policy toward Korea--Europe or Australia. We 
stand to loose millions of dollars and thousands of American jobs 
because of our broken visa system.
  As the Tourism Promotion Conference convenes this week in Washington, 
I understand that the issue of reforming the United States visa 
issuance process for South Korea will be raised and discussed. I 
welcome the input of the United States tourism industry and look 
forward to examining their recommendations as to how we can best 
achieve a larger place in the tourism market, especially with respect 
to South Korea.
  In the interim, however, I believe that in an effort to ward off a 
serious decline in South Korean support for United States policy while 
increasing the ability of South Koreans to visit the United States, 
this legislation should be seriously considered as a solution to this 
embarrassing situation. In fact, I believe that if we reduce the 
bureaucratic barriers to the South Korean people, we will achieve 
greater compliance with our own immigration laws and promote good 
relations with a valuable ally. Therefore, I call upon all of my 
colleagues to support this 1 year, trial basis legislation which is so 
important to the South Korean people and to our foreign policy in Asia. 
After all, 25 countries are already in the visa waiver program.

                          ____________________