SEOUL, President Yoon Suk Yeol met Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday and asked for his support for Korean electric vehicle (EV) and battery companies operating in the U.S. state, the presidential office said.

Kemp was in South Korea to discuss ongoing business projects, as Georgia has attracted high-profile investments from big South Korean companies, such as Hyundai Motor, SK, Hanwha and LG, in recent years.

During the meeting, Yoon asked for the governor’s support in creating a business-friendly environment for Korean companies operating in Georgia in fields such as EVs and batteries, as well as for about 100,000 Korean nationals living in the state, the presidential office said.

In response, Kemp emphasized the importance of the bilateral alliance between South Korea and the United States and pledged support across a wide range of fields, including the economy, people-to-people exchanges and culture, it noted.

Hyundai Motor is currently constructing a new EV plant in Georgia, which is scheduled to be
completed in the fourth quarter.

Hyundai Motor and SK On, a battery arm of SK Group, are also building a battery plant in Georgia with an annual production capacity of 35 gigawatt hours. SK On is also operating two of its own plants in Georgia.

Source: Yonhap News Agency