SEOUL, South Korea — In a stunning incident, South Korea’s foreign minister flew to the United States on Monday to finalize plans for the return of South Korean workers detained during a massive immigration raid in Georgia.
On September 4, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained 475 workers at a Hyundai battery factory under construction, over 300 of whom are South Koreans, an event that sent shockwaves throughout the U.S.-aligned nation.
Video footage showed some workers being shackled, deepening feelings of betrayal among the South Korean community.
Cho Hyun, South Korea's foreign minister, described the situation as a 'serious matter' during a legislative hearing in Seoul, as he and other lawmakers addressed the potential impacts on South Korean companies operating in the U.S.
President Trump defended the raid, stating that the detained workers were in the country illegally. He emphasized the need to reform labor arrangements to assist American workers instead.
With a significant investment of billions promised from South Korea to the U.S. under a recent tariff deal, the timing of the operation has left many lawmakers in South Korea puzzled and concerned about future relations.
Experts predict this incident will complicate visa arrangements for skilled workers and could potentially delay important manufacturing projects in the U.S.
As discussions progress, many are left wondering what the future will hold for U.S.-South Korea relations amidst these developments.
