The South Korean government has launched a full investigation into possible human rights abuses after US authorities detained hundreds of Korean workers during a raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia.
Seoul expressed “strong regret” and formally demanded that the rights and interests of its citizens be respected during law enforcement operations. More than 300 workers returned to South Korea last Friday after spending a week in US custody, while many others remain under investigation.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung condemned the raid as “bewildering” and warned it could discourage foreign investment, noting that Korean firms are set to inject billions of dollars into the US under trade agreements designed to avoid steep tariffs. “It is common practice for Korean companies to send workers to help set up overseas factories. To criminalise this process is unacceptable,” Lee said.
The incident marks the largest single-location immigration raid since President Donald Trump intensified his crackdown on illegal migrants earlier this year. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said those detained had overstayed visas or lacked work authorisation. Witnesses, however, described panic and confusion as federal agents descended on the plant, with some workers reportedly led away in chains.
Hyundai has already confirmed that the plant’s opening will be delayed by at least two months as a result of the disruption. Meanwhile, South Korea’s trade unions have demanded an official apology from Trump, accusing Washington of humiliating Korean nationals and jeopardising bilateral relations.
On Sunday, Trump insisted that South Korean workers and other foreign specialists remain “welcome” in the US, stressing that America must learn from their expertise in fields like shipbuilding, chipmaking, and computing. “We welcome them, we welcome their employees, and we will learn from them and do even better at their own game,” he wrote on Truth Social.
South Korean authorities say they will continue working with affected companies and international partners to ensure accountability, pledging a “thorough probe” into potential violations and safeguards against future incidents.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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