SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean government has announced that more than 300 workers detained during a large immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will soon be released and returned to South Korea.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, confirmed that the U.S. and South Korea finalized negotiations concerning the workers’ release. A charter plane will be arranged for their repatriation once all necessary administrative steps are completed.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is scheduled to head to the U.S. for discussions linked to the release of the detained workers.
U.S. immigration authorities detained a total of 475 individuals during the raid, most of whom were identified as South Korean nationals, on Thursday. The operation was conducted by hundreds of federal agents at Hyundai’s manufacturing site, which is responsible for producing electric vehicles and associated battery technologies in collaboration with LG Energy Solution.
Cho emphasized that over 300 South Koreans were among those taken into custody, a fact that has stunned many in South Korea, given its status as a key ally of the U.S. Notably, South Korea previously made significant economic commitments to the U.S., including a $100 billion energy purchase and a $350 billion investment as part of a recent agreement.
Lee expressed concerns over the potential infringement of rights for South Korean nationals, urging that economic activities of South Korean companies should not suffer during U.S. law enforcement operations. The South Korean Foreign Ministry has also expressed regret about the incident and dispatched diplomats to the manufacturing site.
The raid marks a significant escalation in immigration enforcement, reminiscent of the extensive workplace raids executed under the previous administration. While U.S. Homeland Security Investigations stated none of the detained have yet faced charges, the investigation surrounding the immigration status of those detained remains ongoing. Some reportedly entered the U.S. illegally, while others had overstayed their visas.
Kang noted that South Korea will advocate for improvements in visa systems, particularly for those traveling to the U.S. for business and investment activities. This event raises larger questions concerning labor rights and immigration policies in the context of global economic partnerships.
