Seoul: South Korea has expressed concern that the US immigration raid Hyundai plant in Georgia may discourage further investment, with President Lee Jae Myung warning that firms will be ‘very hesitant’ to expand in America under such conditions.
The large-scale operation last week saw US officials detain 475 people, including more than 300 South Korean nationals. Most have since been released and are scheduled to return home, though their departure was briefly delayed following instructions from the White House.
According to Seoul officials, US President Donald Trump asked for the delay to assess whether the workers were willing to remain and assist in training American staff. Lee said at a news conference marking his first 100 days in office that the situation was ‘extremely bewildering.’
The South Korean government is negotiating with Washington to secure new visa arrangements for workers, either through expanded quotas or additional categories. Lee expressed confidence that the US would recognise the need to address the issue if it views skilled labour as essential.
The Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery facility in Georgia, where the raid occurred, represents one of the largest foreign investment projects in the state. LG Energy Solution said that many of the affected workers held valid visas or were covered under visa waiver programmes, while others were contracted to install production lines.
South Korea has committed to investing tens of billions of dollars in the US, partly to mitigate tariffs. However, media in Seoul have warned that the raid could have a chilling effect on business activity.
The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper described the incident as a ‘shock,’ while Yonhap News Agency called for closer cooperation to repair potential cracks in the bilateral alliance.
Analysts noted that the raid comes at a sensitive time, as Washington and Seoul are engaged in trade negotiations. Trump has said that the US will make it ‘quickly and legally possible’ for foreign companies to employ overseas workers if immigration rules are followed.
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