Seoul Negotiates Release of South Korean Workers Detained at georgia hyundai Factory
ATLANTA - A diplomatic agreement has been reached between South Korea and the United States too secure the release and repatriation of hundreds of South Korean nationals arrested earlier this week at a hyundai electric vehicle factory in Georgia.The arrests, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have sparked concern in Seoul and prompted a swift response from the South Korean government.
The mass detentions center on questions of work authorization and visa status. LG Energy Solution, which jointly operates the plant with Hyundai, stated that many of the 47 arrested LG employees were traveling on valid business visas or were eligible for visa-free entry.Approximately 250 contractor workers were also apprehended. The incident has raised anxieties among South Korean businesses operating in the U.S. about potential disruptions and the implications for future investment.
LG Energy Solution announced it is suspending most business trips to the U.S. and is recalling employees currently stationed there. The factory, heralded by Georgia’s Republican governor as the state’s largest economic advancement project to date-employing 1,200 peopel-produces components for new electric vehicles.
South Korean media outlets have characterized the ICE raid as a meaningful shock, with the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper warning of a potential “deterrent effect” on Korean business activity within the United States. The arrested individuals are currently being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, as arrangements for their return are finalized.
