Us Crackdown Leaves 'deep Scar' on Economic Ties, Possible Delays in Investments

I'm going to call this an own goal draw.

* US: alienated a trade partner building out onshore replicant that is needed for strategic goals.

* KR: used intermediary employment agencies who cheaped out on some paperwork for temporary labour roles.

(This assumes nobody is lying about what happened, noting one KR person detained is now said to have had a valid work visa, not expired or anything dodgy)

On balance I tend to the KR side. The interventions are self destructive and performance art of a cruel kind.

I also have selfish concerns that my unpaid event in the US for 2 days, which is emphatically not employment but is given a per diem and required me to register with the IRS for bilat tax treaty rules is now a flag at the border, despite having ESTA. ESTA says it can apply to temporary business conducted in the US. It is not "just for tourists". My work is volunteer, community benefit doing an HSM dance in a D.C. You would think these guys were covered. I think I'm covered, well.. I did think.

Who knows any more? If you'd asked me 12 months ago would 400 Koreans working temporarily to build and turn on a factory in the US get arrested I would have said no. They were there to train locals. They were there for america's benefit.

I'm probably going to ask the key ceremony organisers for a letterhead invite, clarity I am not employed, and some legals to call if this goes totally tits up.