South Korea pushes for a dedicated U.S. visa quota for shipyard workers

South Korea has linked its $150 billion investment pledge under the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) program to a request for a separate U.S. visa quota for shipbuilding workers. According to a briefing submitted to Democratic Party lawmaker Huh Sung-moo, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has outlined several conditions for Washington, including increased shipbuilding orders, exemptions for overseas construction, financial incentives and the dedicated visa slot.

Although Korea is also lobbying for a new E-4 visa category for Korean professionals, officials argue that shipyard technicians differ from other specialists and therefore merit a distinct allocation. The number of visas would depend on the timing and scale of each project, but establishing a clear entry route is deemed more critical than fixing a precise figure. The push comes as the Partner with Korea Act, which proposes a 15,000-visa annual cap for Korean specialty workers, stalls in Congress, potentially leaving insufficient slots for shipbuilders. Korean authorities stress that skilled personnel are essential for early-stage knowledge transfer and joint research in U.S. shipyards.