DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun met with local Korean community leaders yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to discuss a visa waiver program and other issues.

Roh backs waiving Koreans’ U.S. visas

The president meets with the community during his isle visit

Visa waivers, local investment and a cultural center topped talks between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and local Korean community leaders yesterday.

The private meeting was at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, where local Korean leaders expressed their desires for more Korean overseas investment, particularly in Hawaii.

Roh expressed optimism in a new free trade agreement with the United States. He also talked about the effort to allow South Koreans to visit the United States without going through the visa process, which local leaders described as cumbersome.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pledged full support for a visa waiver program for South Koreans visiting the United States.

Roh's lobbying for the visa waiver topped off an hourlong discussion with dozens of Korean business and community leaders yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Roh's pledge came days after President Bush issued a statement supporting further expansion of the visa waiver program, including putting South Korea on the list.

Currently, all visitors from South Korea must apply for a visa before traveling to the United States. Japanese citizens, however, can forgo the paperwork if they plan to stay fewer than 90 days.

Allowing Korea into the visa waiver program will work wonders for Hawaii's economy, as Korean tourists will flock in droves, said Sung Keun Bae, president of jewelry wholesaler International Jewelry.

"All of the Korean community wants this so everyone can come to visit like Japanese do," said Bae, who was among dozens in the private meeting.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun met with local Korean community leaders yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to discuss a visa waiver program and other issues.

"Once we get the waiver, we're talking about hundreds of thousands of people to come to Hawaii," said Donald Kim, chairman of AMKOR, an engineering firm. "It will really give a boost to the economy, from the hotels to transportation to the shops."

When Roh greeted the community delegation, he expressed sorrow that South Korea did not win the bid to become the host city for the 2014 Olympics.

He also admitted that he is not a popular president overseas and in Korea, but he was grateful for the warm aloha that greeted him when he entered the room.

The discussion also revolved around overseas investment from Korea and his optimism in a new free trade agreement with the United States signed June 29. Community leaders also asked for Korean government support to build a Korean cultural center on Oahu.

Kim told Roh that it would probably cost at least $20 million, and the group asked for the Korean government to subsidize the project.

"This is a most historical state to Koreans," Kim said. "He did say it's a little premature to say for sure, but he said he'll look into it. It's a long shot but it may happen."

Roh appeared relaxed, and his voice was soft as he spoke with the delegation.

"I was very impressed with how he put all of us at ease," Kim said, "and he was very impressed with our aloha."