Concerns over LA Korean American Festival visa rules are rising ahead of the event scheduled for October 16–19 at Seoul International Park in Koreatown. The worries come after the recently reported arrests of 323 Koreans at a Hyundai–LG Energy Solution joint electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Georgia.
Organizers say they are monitoring the situation closely. A representative of the Korean American Festival Foundation explained, “We are only the hosting organization, so we are not responsible for visa issues. However, we provide supporting documents if requested by participants from Korea.”
The festival’s agricultural and seafood expo will include 136 booths, all already sold. Each booth will bring at least two to three representatives from Korea, and with local government participants added, more than 300 people are expected to arrive. In past years, some booth operators entered under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or short-term B1 business visas, but went beyond promotion or marketing by engaging in direct sales and cash transactions. Legal experts warn that such activity could draw immigration enforcement, as seen in Georgia.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Park said, “The visa waiver or B1 is only for tourism, site inspections, or business meetings. After the Hyundai–LG case, enforcement has intensified. If commercial activity is discovered, violators can be arrested and face deportation proceedings.”
Performers also face strict requirements. Artists including DinDin, the Do Hyun Yoon Band, Hyun Woo Ha, and BB Girls, along with their support staff, must obtain O or P performance visas. Attorney Kyung Hee Lee noted, “With so many visitors from Korea, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may scrutinize the festival’s purpose. Booth operators can engage in promotion and marketing under ESTA, but performers and their teams must obtain proper visas to avoid issues.”
The festival foundation emphasized that all visa and entry responsibilities lie with the exhibitors and performers themselves.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
