Detained South Korean Workers from Georgia Plant Return Home
Following a large-scale US immigration raid at a Hyundai facility, detained South Korean workers prepare to fly home.
South Korean workers detained in a sweeping US immigration raid at Hyundai's Georgia battery plant are due to return to Seoul this week. A chartered plane is scheduled to depart the US at 14:30 local time on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Television footage showed the aircraft taking off from Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning. It is expected to arrive in South Korea on Thursday, carrying the repatriated employees.
The incident occurred last week, when US authorities arrested 475 workers—over 300 of them South Korean nationals—allegedly employed illegally at one of the state's largest foreign investment projects.
A plant contractor told reporters there was widespread confusion and panic during the operation. Most of those detained were mechanics installing production lines under a third-party contract.
The raid has strained ties as US and South Korean officials prepare for sensitive trade talks. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, en route to Washington, vowed to work with US counterparts to prevent a recurrence.
The White House has defended the enforcement action, dismissing fears it may deter investment. President Donald Trump used social media to urge foreign companies to hire Americans, while promising legal pathways for foreign workers who comply with immigration laws.
The raid highlights the challenge of balancing strict immigration enforcement with maintaining a welcoming environment for foreign investment.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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