South Korea’s Foreign Minister Heads to US to Secure Release of Detained Workers After Major Immigration Raid
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Taek-uk is set to fly to Washington this week to tackle the release of over 300 detained South Korean workers. This comes right after the government wrapped up negotiations following a massive US immigration raid in Georgia. Diplomatic sources confirmed the trip on Sunday, highlighting the urgency to bring these nationals home.
The raid happened on Thursday at a site run by South Korean giants Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. Out of 457 people caught in the sweep, more than 300 turned out to be South Korean nationals working there. Yonhap News Agency reported that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) labeled it the "largest single-site enforcement operation" in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. ICE explained that the detainees were working illegally, many on short-term or tourist visas that don’t allow employment.
President Donald Trump backed the operation on Friday, calling the detained individuals "illegal aliens." This has sparked concerns in Seoul about the treatment of South Korean workers in the US and the need for better visa rules.
Earlier today, Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced that talks for their release have concluded successfully. He added that a chartered plane stands ready to bring them back once US administration procedures wrap up. "We’re moving fast to get everyone home safely," sources close to the matter shared.
Cho Taek-uk plans to depart Monday afternoon and meet top US officials. His main goals? Push for quick cooperation on releasing the South Korean detainees and sorting out the paperwork. He’ll also urge the US to prevent future immigration raids like this one and push for improvements in the US visa system for South Korean workers traveling for jobs. During a government meeting on Saturday about the arrests, Cho himself said he’d head to Washington if needed for these high-level talks.
On the ground, South Korean consular officials kicked off meetings with the detainees at an immigration center in Folkston, Georgia, starting Saturday. They’re checking health conditions and other needs to ensure smooth releases. The team, led by Consul General Cho Ki-joong from the Korean Embassy in Washington, worries the investigation might drag on, so they’re working overtime to speed things up.
This incident shines a spotlight on challenges faced by South Korean companies operating in the US, especially with stricter immigration enforcement under the current administration. As negotiations succeed, families back home eagerly await the workers’ return. Stay tuned for updates on the South Korean workers’ release and US-South Korea diplomatic efforts.
