Bush to announce S. Korea's entry into visa waiver program: officials

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Friday will
announce South Korea's entry into the Visa Waiver Program, which allows Korean
citizens to stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days without visas, and vice versa,
officials here said Thursday.
South Korea is among seven countries to join the program, which already has 27
member states, an official said. The other six are Hungary, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all of which belong to North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
South Korea in August began issuing electronic passports as a precondition for
entry into the much-awaited program, which is expected to reduce long lines in
front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul to get U.S. entry visas.
The program will likely take effect in mid-November, when Seoul and Washington
are scheduled to sign an agreement on crime and terrorism prevention.
Those who plan to study, cover news stories or seek employment or a permanent
stay are not subject to the program, and thus are required to get relevant visas
for entry, according to the officials.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan visited Washington last month to
agree on the exchange of information on suspected criminals, removing the last
hurdle to South Korea's entry.
Yu met with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at that time on
providing criminal records of a limited number of suspects so immigration
authorities in each country could access such information automatically at
airports.
The minister said the automatic inquiry system is reciprocal and involves
provision of information on certain types of crimes involving only a small number
of people.
Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed in April to implement the
VWP by the end of the year.