Tensions Rise After South Koreans Detained in US Hyundai Plant Raid
A major diplomatic stir has erupted between South Korea and the United States after a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia led to the detention of nearly 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Korean nationals. This facility, which had been celebrated as the largest foreign investment project in Georgia’s history, was suddenly at the center of a heated international dispute.
According to reports, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, carried out what has been described as its largest single-site enforcement action in years. Officials claimed that many of those arrested were either on visitor visas, business visas not permitting employment, or had overstayed previous visa allowances. ICE defended the operation, insisting that it was necessary to protect American jobs and to hold accountable those who exploit the visa system. Images released from the scene showed groups of Asian workers in shackles, with some wearing yellow vests labeled with the names of Hyundai or LG.
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In Washington, President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that the raid could harm foreign investment or diplomatic ties. He stated bluntly that the individuals were “illegal aliens” and that ICE had been “just doing its job.” His comments have triggered anger in Seoul, where officials see the treatment of their citizens as both humiliating and politically damaging.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung quickly ordered an emergency response, instructing his government to pursue all options to protect the rights and dignity of its nationals. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun voiced “deep concern” and said he might personally travel to Washington if the matter is not swiftly resolved. A chartered plane is even being prepared to bring the detained citizens back home once the necessary procedures are completed.
Meanwhile, Hyundai and LG Energy Solution have tried to distance themselves from the arrests, noting that most of the detained individuals were contractors or visitors, not directly employed by the companies. LG confirmed that dozens of its own employees were affected, and it has since suspended most business trips to the United States. South Korean media outlets described the raid as a “shock,” with commentators warning that it could chill further investments or corporate operations in the US.
The timing of the raid has also drawn attention. South Korea has pledged tens of billions of dollars in American manufacturing projects, partly to smooth over trade tensions. Yet at the very moment these investments are being touted, a crackdown on South Korean workers has sent troubling signals to both governments. Opposition leaders in Seoul criticized President Lee’s diplomatic approach, saying it had failed to shield citizens and companies from Washington’s increasingly hard-line immigration stance.
For now, the workers remain in an ICE detention facility in Georgia, while both governments scramble to manage the fallout. What was meant to be a flagship project for clean energy and economic cooperation has, at least temporarily, become a flashpoint in US–South Korea relations.
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