More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia last week are due to arrive home on Friday.
Their return comes as the country's president and Hyundai's chief executive have warned about the impact of the raid.
A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers and 14 non-Koreans who were also detained in the raid took off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at midday local time on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly chosen to stay in the US to seek permanent residency.
The plane is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport some at around 15:30 Seoul time (07:30 BST).
The departure was delayed by more than a day because of an instruction from the White House, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday.
President Donald Trump ordered the pause to check whether the workers were willing to remain in the US to continue working and training Americans, according to a South Korean foreign ministry official.
Lee also said companies would be very hesitant about investing in the US following the raid. The situation is extremely bewildering, Lee added, while noting it is common practice for Korean firms to send workers to help set up overseas factories.
Seoul is negotiating with Washington on visa options for South Korean workers, whether that means securing higher quotas or creating new visa categories, Lee said.
Meanwhile, Hyundai's chief executive José Muñoz has stated that the raid will create a minimum two to three months delay in opening the factory.
US officials detained 475 people - more than 300 of them South Korean nationals - alleging they were working illegally at the battery facility, one of the largest foreign investment projects in Georgia. LG Energy Solutions, which operates the plant with Hyundai, said that many of its employees who were arrested had various types of visas or were under a visa waiver program.
This incident has raised concerns among South Koreans about the future of US investments, especially in light of ongoing trade talks between the two countries. The White House has defended the operation, asserting that it would not deter foreign investment in the US.
