South Korea’s Foreign Minister Confirms Over 300 Koreans Detained in U.S. Immigration Raid
Seoul, September 6 – South Korea is closely watching the recent U.S. immigration operation in Georgia, where over 450 people were taken into custody at a battery plant site. South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced that more than 300 of those detained are South Korean nationals.
The raid took place at a factory run by HL-GA Battery Co., a joint venture between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, near Savannah. U.S. authorities said they carried out the operation as part of a criminal investigation into illegal employment practices. Many detained workers were involved in last-minute electrical work at the plant, which is scheduled to open next year.
Minister Cho expressed deep concern over the arrests. “We feel a heavy responsibility for the safety and rights of our people,” he said. He mentioned he might travel to the United States to speak directly with officials in Washington about the situation. Cho assured that South Korea is working hard to protect its citizens and resolve the issue quickly.
President Lee Jae Myung has instructed officials to take all possible steps to handle this matter swiftly. The goal is to ensure South Korean workers are treated fairly and that Korean companies operating in the U.S. face no unfair troubles.
During a recent meeting with the U.S. acting ambassador to Seoul, South Korea’s second vice foreign minister Kim Ji-na also expressed regret and concern over the raid. She emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of Korean workers abroad.
The US authorities described the operation as the largest single-site immigration enforcement in Georgia’s history. Steven Schrank from Homeland Security revealed that many of those detained had entered on visas that don’t permit work or had overstayed their visas. Most of the detained workers are now in a detention center in Folkston, Georgia.
LG Energy Solution responded by suspending all US business trips for employees and advising staff currently in the US to stay put or return home. The company’s chief HR officer is heading to the U.S. to coordinate efforts and ensure all employees are safe and able to return without delays.
Among those detained, 47 are confirmed employees of LG Energy Solution, with others linked to HL-GA Battery. Many of them were finishing electrical installations as part of the plant’s final preparations.
This incident has stirred up attention both in South Korea and the US. South Korea is demanding clear answers from U.S. authorities to protect its citizens and support its companies operating internationally. Stay tuned for updates on the situation.
