Hyundai Plant Raid in Georgia Leads to Deal for Release of South Korean Workers, Investigation Ongoing
Folkston, GA – A deal reached Sunday between U.S. and South Korean government officials has secured the release of South Korean workers detained following a raid at a hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia last Thursday. Federal authorities executed a judicial search warrant at the plant as part of a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices,though no criminal charges have been filed to date.
The raid and subsequent detentions sparked concern from South Korean officials, with James S. Kim, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, stating Wednesday, “I wish that Americans in America would be a little bit more sympathetic to what the Koreans have witnessed. And as long as they do that, I think the two countries can work together to kind of mitigate what had happened and move forward.”
According to the search warrant, authorities sought employment records, immigration documents, and ownership/management records related to the construction site. They were also specifically interested in four individuals, the reasons for which remain sealed.
Most of the south Korean nationals detained have agreed to “voluntary departure,” avoiding formal deportation orders,according to Meredyth Yoon,a litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta,which has been assisting the detainees and their families. Consulate officials from South Korea met with those detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Centre over the weekend and provided “active consular assistance,” according to a statement from the South Korean government. They also assisted in “consultations with the United States necessary for the early repatriation of all our detainees via chartered flights.”
Approximately 175 detainees from other countries – including Guatemala, Colombia, chile, Mexico, Ecuador, venezuela, and Japan – remain in immigration detention. Asian americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is working to connect affected families with aid.
The situation unfolds as South Korea has pledged $350 billion in U.S. investment in exchange for a lower tariff rate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday that President Donald Trump understands companies ”want to bring their highly skilled and trained workers with them, especially when they’re creating very niche products,” but also “expects these foreign companies to hire american workers.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
