More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia have arrived back home.
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 Atlanta 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 incident has shaken ties between the US and South Korea, whose companies are investing billions in the States – investment that President Donald Trump has pushed to secure.
The workers' departure was delayed by more than a day due to an instruction from the White House, as noted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
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.
The workers appeared happy yet fatigued as they made their way through Incheon International Airport and onto buses to reunite with their families. I'm back, I'm free! one shouted.
A sizable group of journalists awaited the workers' arrival at the airport. Protests were also present, with individuals holding signs expressing outrage over the raid.
The returning workers have requested privacy, prompting advisories from South Korea's foreign ministry to media outlets to obscure their identities in photographs and videos.
Last week, US officials detained approximately 475 individuals, over 300 of whom were South Koreans, believed to be working illegally at Hyundai's battery facility, one of the largest foreign investments in Georgia.
The detainees were reportedly transported away in handcuffs and chains, inciting considerable backlash in their home country.
Companies might become 'very hesitant' about investing in the US due to the raid's ramifications, according to South Korea's president.
Hyundai's chief executive José Muñoz stated that the raid has delayed the factory's opening by at least two months as the company needs to recruit new workers to complete operations.
The South Korean foreign ministry is advocating with the US Congress for a new visa that allows Korean firms to have more flexibility with worker transfers.
As diplomatic relations face strain, both nations must navigate the growing discontent stemming from this incident.
