By Philomina Brando
More than 300 South Korean workers detained in the United States are awaiting repatriation, following a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia. The incident has triggered political outcry in Seoul, raised questions about US immigration enforcement, and cast a shadow over the countries’ deep economic partnership.
A Korean Air charter flight departed Seoul for Atlanta on Wednesday to facilitate the workers’ return. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed ongoing discussions with Washington, stressing that departure arrangements remained uncertain due to “circumstances on the US side.” Officials said consultations were continuing to ensure the earliest possible release of the detained nationals.
The repatriation plan follows an agreement reached over the weekend between Seoul and US officials that would allow the workers to leave under “voluntary departure” status rather than face formal deportation proceedings.
The workers were arrested on September 4 during a sweeping operation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the battery plant site in Ellabell, roughly 25 miles from Savannah. The factory, a joint venture between South Korean industrial giants Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, represents one of the largest ongoing Korean investments in the US.
The raid followed a months-long investigation by US authorities into alleged visa violations. ICE released images showing detained workers lined up and restrained, sparking anger across South Korea’s political spectrum. Critics have described the scenes as humiliating for a country regarded as one of Washington’s closest allies.
The incident has stirred debate across South Korean media and society. Conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported growing calls from the business community for visa quotas to accommodate Korean workers employed at major US projects. The moderate Hankook Ilbo warned of the “Trump risk” facing Korean investors under current policies, while progressive outlet Hankyoreh condemned the US administration’s approach as “double-dealing.”
Choi Jong Kun, a former South Korean Vice Foreign Minister, said the raid was “like a slap in the face,” criticizing Washington for benefiting from Korean investment while restricting the movement of its workers. “Those plants didn’t have to be built in the US. They were built because the US wanted them,” Choi said, adding that the workers’ stay was temporary and tied to highly specific tasks.
President Lee Jae Myung described the detentions as “unjust infringements on the activities of our people and businesses” and urged that such practices not recur. Despite the strong rhetoric, his administration has prioritized resolving the dispute quickly, mindful of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea as a safeguard against North Korea.
Lawyers representing several of the detained workers argue that their clients were legally present in the US under visa waivers. Immigration attorney Charles Kuck told CNN that two of his clients, both engineers, had entered the US in late August to provide technical advice for the project. “They had a specific time to be here and leave, for a specific task as part of Hyundai’s contract,” Kuck said.
Experts note that South Korean workers have long supported US-based industrial projects under similar arrangements, often in the absence of adequate US visa allocations. Law professor Cho Hee-kyoung of Hongik University said authorities had previously “turned a blind eye” to technicalities because of shortages in H1B business visas. “This raid signals a tougher approach,” she added.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is in Washington this week for high-level talks. He is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, with negotiations focusing on ensuring the safe and timely return of the detained workers.
The issue comes as both countries are navigating a new trade framework. In July, former President Donald Trump announced a $350 billion investment plan by South Korean firms in the US, designed to boost American manufacturing jobs. Analysts, however, caution that restrictions on skilled foreign workers may undermine these efforts.
South Korea is the United States’ sixth-largest trading partner and one of its most important military allies in Asia. The detentions have raised fears of damaging business sentiment at a time when Washington is urging Seoul to deepen its economic footprint in America.
Chang Sang-sik, head of research at the Korea International Trade Association, described Washington’s actions as “two-faced,” accusing the US of demanding greater investment while treating Korean workers “like criminals.”
So far, public demonstrations in Seoul have been limited, but anger continues to build in opinion columns and online forums. Many commentators argue that the credibility of the alliance rests on fair treatment of Korean workers helping to deliver US-based projects.
The immediate priority for both governments is the safe repatriation of those detained. Yet the larger questions remain unresolved: how to balance America’s domestic labor concerns with the realities of global investment and whether new visa frameworks, such as the proposed “Partner with Korea Act,” will offer a sustainable solution.
For now, Seoul’s strategy is to defuse tensions while safeguarding its vast economic commitments in the US. But the images of Korean workers in chains may linger as a painful reminder of the challenges even close allies face in balancing politics, immigration, and economic cooperation.