South Korea To Send Charter Plane To Repatriate Hundreds Of Workers Arrested In U.S. Immigration Raid At Hyundai Site

By Emiola Osifeso

According to the South Korean presidential office, negotiations over the release of about 300 South Korean workers detained in Georgia have been concluded, and processing for their release is currently underway.

South Korea announced on Sunday that it is preparing to repatriate hundreds of its citizens detained in the United States following a major immigration raid, even as President Donald Trump’s administration pledged to intensify workplace enforcement operations.

According to the South Korean presidential office, negotiations over the release of about 300 South Korean workers detained in Georgia have been concluded, and processing for their release is currently underway.

A chartered plane will be dispatched to bring them home once the administrative procedures are finalized, according to Reuters.

“The negotiations to release about 300 South Koreans who were detained have concluded and processing for their release from custody is ongoing,” the presidential office said in a statement late Sunday.

“A chartered plane will be flown to bring them back as soon as the processing by the two countries is complete.”

The statement did not specify what administrative procedures are involved.

However, Yonhap news agency quoted South Korean Consul General in Washington Cho Ki-joong as saying the workers will likely board a plane on Wednesday.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

However, White House border czar Tom Homan separately vowed to expand immigration raids targeting workplaces.

Later on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone while maintaining his tough stance on immigration. Writing on his social media platform, he said: “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.”

Trump added that foreign companies investing in the U.S. must “respect our Nation’s immigration laws.”

Speaking to reporters earlier, he said he would review the incident but stressed it had not harmed relations with South Korea.

On Thursday, U.S. federal agents arrested about 475 workers during a raid on Hyundai’s $4.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, the largest single-site enforcement operation in DHS history.

Around 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals.

The DHS said the operation was executed under a judicial search warrant amid allegations of unlawful employment practices.

A customs official added that many of those arrested lacked proper immigration authorization to work at the facility.

Footage of the raid showing armoured vehicles and workers in shackles caused anger in Seoul, especially as it came just 10 days after a summit between the U.S. and South Korean presidents where both sides pledged closer economic cooperation.

South Korea’s government expressed regret over the arrests and the public release of the footage.

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Seoul would push to improve the visa system for Korean workers traveling to the U.S. to “prevent a similar incident.”

The crackdown has strained relations between Washington and Seoul, key allies and trade partners.

Hyundai recently said it is boosting its U.S. investment to $26 billion, including a robotics facility.

The Georgia EV battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, with each holding a 50% stake, is one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history.

In response to the raid, LG Energy Solution suspended most staff business trips to the U.S. and said it would recall employees already in the country, except in exceptional cases.

Despite the tensions, Reuters has reported that Trump may travel to South Korea in October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.