SEUL, South Korea (Quanta Report) — In a development following significant diplomatic negotiations, more than 300 South Korean workers who were detained during a recent immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia are due to be released and repatriated.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, confirmed that discussions between South Korean and U.S. officials successfully concluded, culminating in plans for a charter flight to return the detainees as soon as possible.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is scheduled to travel to the United States for additional talks regarding the release of the detained workers, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation promptly.
The immigration operation last Thursday, executed by U.S. authorities, resulted in the detention of approximately 475 individuals, primarily South Korean nationals, at the Hyundai facility known for electric vehicle production and battery manufacturing. This raid has drawn attention not only for its scale but also for occurring at a site recognized as a major economic development project in Georgia.
Cho noted that more than 300 of the detained were South Korean, highlighting the operation's implications for U.S.-South Korea relations. This incident, part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy, is distinct due to its extensive scale, as previous operations had smaller impacts.
South Korea's diplomatic engagement with the U.S. regarding the situation is crucial, especially considering the backdrop of significant economic agreements made between the nations, including South Korea's commitment to purchase $100 billion in U.S. energy and invest $350 billion in the U.S.
Lee stated that the rights of South Korean citizens and their business activities must be respected, expressing concern and regret from the South Korean Foreign Ministry regarding the situation. South Korean diplomats have been deployed to the location of the raid to monitor the situation closely.
Images from the incident released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed workers being directed by federal agents to line up and comply with identification procedures. While the investigation continues, officials confirmed that no charges have been levied against the detainees currently.
In response to this incident, Kang indicated that South Korea would advocate for better visa systems for individuals traveling to the U.S. for business-related projects, aimed at preventing similar situations in the future.
