A charter plane from South Korea took off for the United States on Wednesday with the aim of bringing back Korean workers detained following immigration raids in Georgia last week.
Last week, a significant operation led to the detention of 475 workers, over 300 of whom were Korean, at a Hyundai battery factory that was still under construction.
A video released by U.S. authorities depicted some of the detainees restrained with chains around their hands, ankles, and hips.
The South Korean government announced that they had reached an agreement with the U.S. regarding the release of these workers.
Korean Workers Scheduled for Return Days After Arrests
Footage showed a charter plane taking off from Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, utilizing a Boeing 747-8i.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry was in talks with U.S. officials to expedite the transportation of released workers back home.
However, there were complications; the plane couldn’t leave the U.S. because South Korea had initially requested it for unspecified reasons.
The detained workers are currently held in an immigration facility in Folkestone, located in southeastern Georgia.
Reports indicated that the workers would be transferred to charter flights headed for Atlanta.
South Korean officials mentioned they are negotiating with U.S. authorities to pursue “voluntary” departures for the workers, rather than facing deportation, which could prevent them from returning to the U.S. for up to a decade.
The U.S. Homeland Security Agency has been ramping up workplace raids as part of a larger deportation strategy.
This battery factory project is a collaboration between Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions and is among several major industrial developments that Korean firms are establishing in the U.S.
The raids have sparked a sense of national shame among many Koreans, as public sentiment remains strong over the incidents.
Just ten days prior, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with former President Trump in Washington.
Earlier in July, South Korea committed to substantial investments in the U.S. to secure tariff agreements.
Experts believe South Korea is unlikely to retaliate significantly against the U.S., but the recent events have increased tensions between the allied nations, especially as immigration enforcement policies tighten.
South Korea Aiming for Visa System Improvements
U.S. officials noted that some of the detained individuals had entered the country unlawfully. Others had entered legally but were in violation of visa terms.
Despite ongoing negotiations, South Korean experts argue that the U.S. has yet to address Seoul’s longstanding request for a more accommodating visa system for skilled workers crucial to developing these projects, even as it pressures South Korea to enhance its industrial investments in America.
Korean firms often rely on short-term visitor visas or electronic permits to send workers necessary for setting up operations.
LG Energy Solutions, which employs a significant number of the detained workers, has instructed its staff not to report to work until further notice, and to return to Korea when possible.
During his Washington visit, Foreign Minister Chong met with representatives of major South Korean companies, including Hyundai and LG, discussing the potential development of a dedicated visa allocation for South Korean specialists working in the U.S.
Trump commented this week that many workers are “illegally here” and suggested that collaboration with other nations is essential to prepare experts for critical jobs like battery and electronics manufacturing.
An immigration lawyer representing some of the detained individuals indicated that the machinery intended for use at the Georgia factory must be installed and serviced by workers from overseas due to the specific training requirements.
The U.S.-South Korea military alliance, formed during the Korean War, has had its ups and downs but is still generally supported by the South Korean populace. This alliance remains vital, with around 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.
At an official meeting, President Lee expressed his “great responsibility” regarding the raids and committed to reforms that would prevent such injustices in the future.
