Hundreds of South Korean workers were welcomed with applause and emotional reunions on Friday as they returned home following a US immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery factory in Georgia, which had ensnared 475 people, the majority being South Koreans.
At Incheon Airport, officials from the South Korean government and waiting families celebrated the return of 310 workers. Many workers shouted phrases such as “freedom” and “I’m back!” while relatives broke into tears and embraced their loved ones after nearly a week of separation. Outside the airport, a large monitor displayed the message: “Welcome home, fellow Koreans.”
Workers described harsh conditions during detention. An engineer at Hyundai Motors told The Korea Economic Broadcasting that “beds and shower facilities were in such poor condition that daily life was unbearable. The food was so bad, I could barely finish a single meal.”
The raid in Georgia was the largest single-site immigration enforcement operation since US President Donald Trump launched a broad crackdown after returning to office in January. Experts note that most of the detained workers were likely on visas not permitting hands-on construction work, prompting a delicate diplomatic situation between the US and South Korea.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed deep concern over the ordeal, highlighting that the workers’ return was unexpectedly delayed by a day due to President Trump’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation and his order for a full review of options.
In response, the two governments have agreed to form a working group to establish a new visa category for future South Korean investment projects in the US.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) condemned the mass arrests, calling them a violation of human rights and demanding an apology from the Trump administration, while urging Seoul to reconsider future US investment projects.
At the factory site, construction schedules are expected to be impacted. Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz estimated a two to three month delay due to workforce disruptions, though LG Energy Solution President Kim Dong-myung suggested the delays were manageable. Many South Korean companies commonly bring their own workforce during project development periods, often using visa arrangements to avoid delays.
LG confirmed its commitment to US projects, stating it is working to minimize any business impact resulting from the incident.
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