SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — More than 300 South Korean workers detained following a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will be released and brought home, the South Korean government announced Sunday.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, confirmed that negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. have been finalized, leading to the planned repatriation of the workers. A charter plane will be dispatched as soon as all administrative steps are fulfilled.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is expected to depart for the U.S. on Monday to discuss the logistics of the workers' release. On Friday, U.S. immigration authorities reported the detention of 475 individuals during an extensive operation at Hyundai’s manufacturing site in Georgia, primarily involving South Korean nationals.
The raid, conducted by federal agents, was focused on an area still under construction where Hyundai collaborates with LG Energy Solution to produce batteries for electric vehicles.
Over 300 South Koreans were among those detained, raising alarm back home as it highlights tensions between the two allied countries. The raid was particularly surprising given ongoing economic cooperation, including a recent agreement worth $100 billion related to energy purchases.
Lee expressed the need for sensitivity in U.S. enforcement actions impacting South Korean nationals and the economic interests of the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its strong concerns and dispatched diplomats to the site to assess the situation.
Visuals released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement depicted a significant operation where workers were directed to line up and were subjected to searches.
Currently, there have been no charges filed against those detained. Many are awaiting further processing, with ongoing investigations indicating some individuals may have entered the U.S. illegally or violated their visa conditions.
Kang noted that South Korean authorities will push for reviews and improvements in visa systems for business travelers to the U.S.
