US Official Expresses Regret Over Georgia Raid on Korean Workers, Seeks Stronger Ties
SEOUL – A senior US diplomat conveyed regret Sunday regarding a recent immigration raid in Georgia that resulted in the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers, and proposed using the incident as a catalyst to bolster US-South korean relations.
The expression of regret came during a meeting in Seoul between South Korean First Vice-Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and US deputy Secretary of State christopher Landau. According to a statement released by the South Korean foreign ministry,Park urged Landau to expedite bilateral discussions on measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. These measures include establishing clearer guidelines for existing business visas and creating a new visa category specifically for Korean professionals involved in large-scale Korean investment projects within the United States.
The raid, which took place at a Hyundai Motor battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, detained approximately 300 South Korean workers and sparked significant concern in South Korea. the workers returned home Friday to emotional welcomes from family members.
Landau reportedly emphasized the importance of accelerating working-level consultations to ensure visa issuance reflects the valuable contributions of Korean workers, highlighting the role of Korean investment in revitalizing US manufacturing. He also referenced a decision by President Donald Trump assuring the workers would not be disadvantaged upon any future attempts to re-enter the US.
The South Korean government is seeking assurances to prevent a recurrence of the raid. The US Embassy in Seoul has not yet provided a comment on the matter. Park described landau’s visit as “timely” considering the recent events.