FILE PHOTO: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul gives a statement about his 2+2 meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, at the State Department in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun travelled to the United States on Monday to address the diplomatic fallout following the detention of hundreds of Korean workers during a large-scale immigration raid, at a time when Seoul had committed to significant investment projects in the US.
Seoul confirmed on Sunday that negotiations to secure the release of about 300 Korean workers arrested at a Georgia battery plant being built by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution had concluded, and plans were underway to fly them home later in the week.
The detentions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent shockwaves across South Korea, a key US ally, which had been working to finalise a trade deal agreed in late July. The raid occurred just 10 days after South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, met US President Donald Trump in Washington, where the two leaders pledged closer business ties.
Cho’s discussions focused on arranging the Korean workers’ return via a chartered flight under what the South Korean foreign ministry described as a “voluntary departure.” The workers were mostly employed by subcontractors at the site.
President Trump, who has intensified deportations nationwide amid a crackdown on illegal immigration, said last week he had not been aware of the raid and referred to those detained as “illegal aliens.” On Sunday, he urged foreign companies investing in the US to respect national immigration laws but offered a more conciliatory tone: “Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” he said on Truth Social.
The 300 South Koreans were part of a total of 475 workers arrested on Thursday at the $4.3 billion Hyundai and LGES project to produce electric vehicle batteries. The operation was the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of the DHS.
Seoul expressed strong displeasure over both the arrests and the public release of footage showing armoured vehicles and the shackling of workers during the operation.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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