SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated on Thursday that Korean companies are likely to hesitate in making further investments in the United States unless the U.S. visa system for their employees is improved. This remark follows the release of hundreds of workers detained from a Georgia factory site during a recent immigration raid.
In a news conference marking his first 100 days in office, Lee emphasized the necessity for reforms in the U.S. visa system. This discussion arose after a raid on September 4 that led to the arrest of over 300 South Korean workers at a battery factory being constructed for Hyundai near Savannah.
According to South Korea's Foreign Ministry, U.S. authorities have since released the 330 detainees, primarily South Koreans, who are now being transported to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for a charter flight back to South Korea.
The widespread anger within South Korea, fueled by video footage showing the arrests and the chaining of workers, reflects the nation's sentiments of betrayal given the recent summit between President Donald Trump and Lee, and an agreement that spared South Korea from the highest tariffs in exchange for a commitment of $350 billion in new U.S. investments amidst domestic job market challenges.
Lawmakers across the political spectrum in South Korea denounced the detentions as excessive and a breach of trust. The raid has drawn criticism, likened by major media outlets to a “rabbit hunt,” indicative of a zealous pursuit of immigration enforcement by U.S. authorities.
During the conference, Lee noted that South Korean and U.S. officials are considering modifications to the visa system, stressing that without such changes, South Korean firms would remain hesitant about U.S. investments. He stated, “When you build a factory, you require technicians to set up equipment, yet the U.S. does not have that workforce available.”
Lee emphasized the impact that a well-structured visa system would have on future investments. He stated, “If changes aren’t made, establishing a local manufacturing presence in the U.S. could be severely challenging for our companies.”
The situation underlines a critical divergence in how each country addresses immigration, with South Koreans accustomed to flexibility regarding work visas for short-term assignments, whereas the U.S. pursues stricter controls. Lee highlighted this contrasting perspective, noting that U.S. policies often do not accommodate the realities of South Korean business practices.
In a recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced an agreement to form a joint working group aimed at addressing the visa issues. However, concerns remain over the potential vulnerability of South Korean workers to future enforcement actions without a concrete policy improvement.
As South Korean companies continue to invest in the United States, with numerous industrial projects underway, experts warn that without modifications to visa issuance policies, both countries’ economic interests could suffer.
